Tag: tradition

I don’t feel like talking about it

I don’t feel like talking about my enuresis and the bullying right this moment. So I’m writing about gákti and Saami culture now. Plus DNA-tests and ancestry, family research/genealogy.

I have ancestry from Kautokeino region from 1850s and going back several centuries before this time. But Kautokeino natives quite often are very passionate about people having recent roots from their town, they really don’t like people who are more outsiders wearing the local Kautokeino gákti.

The gákti is special from place to place, and it’s traditional clothing for the Saami people. It’s called samekofte (or just kofte) in Norwegian language. I currently don’t have one, and they are really expensive for very good reasons. They are made with high quality fabric and other items included traditional silver accessoirer and kommager, a special type of shoes.

I also have significant Sea Saami origins from places like Måsøy and Kvalsund so I’m likely choose one of them as the Saami culture in coastal region are often of ancestors who were much more affected by Norwegianization and found their roots by family research and recently the role of DNA-tests in Norway.

I have done two DNA-tests about my ethnicity estimates and DNA-matches, and it has been useful in several different ways. Btw I’m mostly of Norwegian ancestry, mainly in Northern regions and also Agder county plus Rogaland county regions in the far-Southern parts of Norway. I have around 17% Finnish ethnicity estimate results from these tests and some of it is Finnish/Kven and others of Saami origins. I have a page to the right about my ethnicity and DNA-test results.

Thanks for reading my blog ❤

Torunn

My name, my true name from within. I chose it and I own it, letting go of my four letter name soon to be history of the past. I know I’m 31 years old and used to my offline official name, but I’m doing this life change now because it feels right.

And in addition I identify with the name Ingvild as my parents almost chose it as my birth given name, I really resonate with the strong meaning ‘foremothers struggle’ as a part of my own family research and passion for all of the Norwegian ethnic minority groups in general.

I’m a part of many ethnic groups; mostly Sámi and Kven/Finnish on maternal grandmother side and Reisende on maternal grandfather side, on fathers side with some Finnish/Kven and quite significant Sea Sámi origins. I’m also of so-called ethnic Norwegian origins, but the term is strange.

One thing about changes is that it is difficult getting used to them in the beginning so I’m going to struggle with this aspect in my everyday life. But it’s what I need now, so I’m doing it.

my new Sami boots and the Amundsen high-boots 💙☺️❄️

Daily writing prompt
Tell us about your favorite pair of shoes, and where they’ve taken you.
View all responses

I just recently bought these and they are already my favourite pair of shoes ever. They are stylish, warm, pretty and some symbolism. Absolutely lovely, and they were expensive shoes at 5000 Norwegian kroner, very pretty shoes and the best things about them are the ability to keep warm even at -25° celsius and the exotic look of the seal fur/hide with fur. I know it’s not suitable for vegans, however.

My journey has been short so far but I know it’s a long lasting type of joy, I’ve always wanted something similar to these boots. Now I actually have two different pair of seal boots from Topaz of Norway.

thank you for reading my blog ❤

Folket som forsvant

I’m going to watch this very soon along with my mother who has roots in Agder and Rogaland, of (very likely) part Reisende/skøyer ancestry as well as ethnic Norwegian origins. It’s on NRK’s online television (nett-TV) and it’s a documentary about this ethnicity and culture, how the State and ordinary people discriminated against them (or much better said; us), the languages and roots of this coastal region Traveller peoples.

Julaften snart (about our Christmas Eve celebrations)

Nå er det 12 dager til julaften og mørketiden er i gang her for lenge siden. Vi feirer dagen på storslått vis hvert år, julemiddag og pynte på kirkegården, pakke opp gaver og være sammen med familien. Det er skjønnhet i mørket også, det er aldri helt uten mening.