Indigenous Peoples and National Minorities

Sámi and national minorities have been, and still are, subjects to prejudice and discrimination in Norway. How should we teach about and with these groups in a manner that promotes equality and an understanding for diversity?

The Sámi have status as an indigenous people to Norway. Indigenous peoples are groups with affiliation to a geographical area from before the founding of a nation-state. National minorities are groups of people with a long-lasting connection to the nation. In Norway there are five such groups: Kven people, Jews, Forest Finns, Roma and Romani people.

Sámi, Kven people and Forest Finns have all been victims of Norwegianization. Schools were used as an important tool in this policy. Among other things, children and youth were forced to speak Norwegian instead of their mother tongues.

Jews in Norway face different degrees of anti-Semitic prejudices, and the word Jew is still used as a derogatory term in some schools. Romani people and Roma are among those met with the most prejudices, while also being a group most know very little about.

Under this topic you will find both information about these groups, and specific tips and teaching plans about Sámi and national minorities.