Gosa Bássi Várit Leat Jávkan? Where Have All The Sacred Mountains Gone?

Abstract

The sacred Sámi mountains have their origin in the Sámi religion, and many of these are registered, being considered a part of Sámi cultural heritage today. We find them in the whole Sámi traditional settlement area. The most important common feature is the belief and traditions connected to them. The article’s main focus will be on how narratives and practices in connection to these mountains, are challenged by the consequences of the former Norwegianization politics. The extensive change from Sámi to Norwegian language in daily life, applies for names of sacred mountains as well, and the majority of the mountains have Norwegian names today with no association to sacredness. Using Ortner’s (High religion: a cultural and political history of Sherpa Buddhism. Princeton University Press, 1989) practice theory as a point of departure, the questions are: What do we know about religious beliefs and practices connected to these sacred mountains, and how have perceptions and practices changed up through time?