‘They like to make us invisible’… Growing up Sámi. From assimilation to ethno-political movement: A story about Indigenous denial and finding one’s voice.

Introduction: In many ways I embody colonization. The assimilation policies of the Norwegian state towards the Sámi through centuries have resulted in a chasm and loss of Sámi culture through generations. I did not grow up
in Sámi culture. My family did not further or forward Sámi culture within our family even though that is our heritage. My family did not teach us kids Sámi language. To protect us. My grandmother told me they did not want to burden us with that. Unfortunately, I took me almost 50 years before I realized all that I had lost. Method: Using Indigenous story work assimilated family histories were gathered and analysed with a feminist postcolonial lens in light of the socio‐political context of assimilation and colonisation. Findings: The Sámi people live with a heritage of repression and abuse, and for many Sámi it is about shame, about lack of language and visibility, mental health and taboos.