Flag of the Kven people. Source: Wikipedia, Hosmich, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Ancient Heritage Association and the Norwegian Kveners’ Association believe that the new Cultural Environment Act must equate Kven and Sámi cultural heritage.
Kven and Norwegian-Finnish cultural monuments must automatically be protected if they are from before 1917. This is the opinion of several organisations and institutions.
Last week, the deadline for consultation input on the new Cultural Environment Act, which will replace the current law from 1978, expired.
In several submissions that NRK has had access to, it is clearly stated that Kven and Norwegian-Finnish cultural monuments should have the same protection as Sámi cultural monuments.
Today, only Sámi cultural monuments have such strong protection.
“Many of the physical cultural monuments in the north are connected to both Sámi and Kven culture. Therefore, it would be natural to equate them.”
This is according to the general secretary of the Norwegian Association of Historical Monuments, Ola Harald Fjeldheim. The association is one of those who have advocated this in its submission.
“We believe this is the right signal to send and say that these two expressions of cultural heritage should be equated and treated in the same way.”
Rotting Away
This is not the first time the age limit has been discussed. Already in 2018, the Norwegian Kven Association reacted strongly to the government’s failure to do anything with the current regulations.
According to current law, Kven cultural monuments, like all other cultural monuments, are automatically protected only if they are from before 1536, 381 years older than the Sámi ones.
According to the Norwegian Antiquities Association, there is no reason why the difference should be so great.
“It is important to work with the cultural heritage of minorities and bring them to light, especially in light of history and how the minorities have been treated.”
In addition to the Norwegian Association of Historical Monuments and the Kven Association, Vadsø Museum—Ruija Kven Museum, the Kven Finnish National Association and the Kven Institute have advocated for this in their submissions.
The Storting has also asked the government to prepare a proposal for an amendment to the Cultural Heritage Act that ensures that the age limit is changed.
Secretary General of NKF—RK, Vilde Christoffersen Walsø, is pleased that several people outside the Kven community are now supporting the cause.
“When you are a minority, it is important to have good allies who help us in our cause. It is problematic to distinguish between Sámi and Kven cultural heritage. They have lived closely and started families together,” he says.
According to the Secretary General, it is very important that Kven cultural heritage now receives the same protection as Sámi. Many of the Kven and Norwegian-Finnish artifacts were burned in 1944, and subsequently no one has prioritised taking care of them. That is why many of them are rotting away, says Walsø.
“We must get started and prioritise this work immediately.”
In addition, the association is calling for a comprehensive plan for how to preserve the remaining Kven cultural monuments.
“For example, there are many Kven cultural monuments that have been registered as Sámi cultural monuments.”
Will Make A Thorough Assessment
NRK has been in contact with the Ministry of Climate and Environment, which is responsible for the work on the new law.
According to State Secretary Kristoffer André Hansen, they have begun to review the consultation inputs, but cannot say when they will present the bill.
The State Secretary says that the ministry will make a thorough assessment, for example of the age limit for automatic protection.
“Whether it is done one way or the other, the Cultural Heritage Act should ensure that the Kven cultural environment is safeguarded in a good way, and that the law is in line with Norway’s international obligations. That is our goal.”
Source: NRK