The Taking of Samiland

The Sámi people live in the far north of Scandinavia. These reindeer nomads constitute one of the smallest acknowledged minorities in the world. Nevertheless, their territory spreads over four countries: Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden. Their language and culture have been oppressed for centuries by the different rulers of these countries. In the late seventies the Norwegian government conceived the plan to build an enormous power station in the heart of the remaining Sámi-territory. For the first time the ever-peaceful Sámi revolted. Mo sámi valdet is a poetic film about a politically charged issue. We witness the struggle for survival of a people whose cultural identity is being curtailed ever further. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)