| The southsami's
are the southern most native group in Sweden. Being a small and no so wellknown
native group is one of the primary reasons for creating Gaaltije. A number
of cultural activities is also carried out in the southsami area, Gaaltije
will be the host for several of those, gathering them in one location.
Gaaltije means spring and source, and that is our vision
that it will be a place to rest to gather strength for ourself as an indigenous
people, but also to be the source of knowledge about us in the rest of
the world.
The old customsbuilding in Östersund,
suggested location for Gaaltije.
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Gaaltije will be a site where
we will be able to introduce ourselves. Who we are and what it is that
makes us a people. Our enterprises, culture and language.
As a other peoples we have a history of our own. Even though there never
was any kings or armies.
The mountains are our own, there we have spent our childhood, grown
up, lived, worked and finally passed away to the next existence. The traces
left might be hard to find, but we was there, we still are there.
The lakes are ours. From them we have gotten some of our food. A complement
to other sources which nature have provided us with to nourish us. The
rivers and creeks of the Sami nation are also ours as well as the forests.
A land for the reindeer, a home for us both.
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| We, the Sami people as well
as other native peoples around the world, needs institutions of our own.
These could provide us with the following services:
As a resource to unite ourself and our own society.
Improve the knowledge about our culture and strengthen our selfesteem.
Gather strength for our issues and to be able to handle a changing
world.
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Gaaltije will work in the
following areas:
Language, history and culture.
Enterprises and society.
Information and transfer of knowledge.
A meetingplace and a market for Sami merchandise and products.
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