Sami Language Revitalisation: Language Nests’ Social Dimensions in Terms of the Surrounding Sami Community, Culture and Languages

This chapter highlights the social dimensions of Sami language nests in the Sami language revitalisation context in the Finnish side of Sápmi. Sami language nests are part of the Sami language revitalisation efforts in the Sami region of Finland. Language nests are either Northern Sami, Inari Sami or Skolt Sami. Sami language nests are part of the Sami community and reflect the social cohesion of the community. In particular, they concretely support the realisation of language revitalisation when Sami children and the elderly experience a linguistic connection. The language nests operate as part of the Sami community, and adhere to the values of Sami education, an aspect of which is community. The goal is to nurture the growing child into the community through language and practical action, despite being an individual member of it. The everyday activities of the language nests reflect the daily activities of the community. Resource people from the Sami community strengthen the implementation of traditional knowledge, language, and educational approaches in the language nests, together with the teachers. Language nests emphasise a child’s holistic growth so that all activities have a place in the child’s upbringing. Together, these form the social dimension of Sami language nests. In this article, I discuss the inclusion and integration of children in the Sami community through the Sami language for the holistic purpose of Sami language nests. This article is based on a dissertation written in 2016 and subsequent developmental activities, in which the role of language nests as a social environment has been seen as central.