Buošši Award winners are Ruth and Per Larsen
For the second year in a row, the Buošši prize was awarded during the opening of Riddu Riđđu Festival. This year it was the married couple Ruth and Per Larsen who received the award for their work in safeguarding Sea Sámi cultural history.
In North Troms, "buošši" is a term of honor for someone who is eager, hardworking, fearless and brave. Being buošši is a great compliment, but it must be earned. The indigenous festival Riddu Riđđu and the Center for Northern Peoples have jointly created the Buošši award to honor hard-working and courageous people or associations that have made a significant effort to make Sea Sámi language and culture visible.
The jury received several strong nominations, but this year's award winners really stood out. Ruth and Per Larsen are two Sámis who over several years have worked hard to safeguard Sea Sámi culture, language and history. They live in Skárfvaggi /Skardalen - a fjord village in Kåfjord municipality with a long Sámi history. Together with Skardalen Bygde- og Kulturlag, the two have contributed to preserving the Sea Sámi culture and environment in the village.
The hospitable award winners have welcomed countless guests who have been given a tour of local barns, traditional cabins, the valley and the spring. In a converted barn, the couple have made arrangements to be able to pass on the village's cultural history and here the guests are often served Sea Sámi food, good stories or Sámi songs and hymns. On the shore guests can find restored boathouses where they can get an insight into the life of the fish farmers. There are several hundred Sámi place names in Skardalen, which Per and Ruth have helped to document and mark with signs.
Ruth and Per have been eager promoters of safeguarding the special cultural landscape in the village. They have also ensured that this traditional knowledge is passed on to the next generation. Every summer, the couple welcomes young people connected to the village, to take part in weeding hay meadows and pastures and restoring buildings.
The couple is also part of a Sámi singing group/Sámi lávlunjoavku in Kåfjord, Ruth sews Lyngenkofte for everyone in the family who needs it and is an active member of Manndalen husflidslag and Romssa Sámiid duodji.
Read more about the Skardalen cultural landscape and the award winners here: