Stolen a book about the Sapmi nation

As a young man I recall seeing news clips about exotic Laplanders wearing colorful clothing and on skis herding reindeer.  For several years similar clips reminded me that they were found mostly in northern Norway, Sweden and Finland.  The term "indigenous" was one way to label them.

"Stolen" (2021) upends some of those ideas.  I had seen the movie and more recently read the book (that always deepens understanding).  The area is more properly labelled "Sapmi" and includes parts of Russia.  "Laplanders" is considered a slur and they prefer to be called Sami.  

The term "indigenous" is sometimes applied.  Definitions vary, but one perspective is those who identified as such, feeling they are different in culture and too often suffer discrimination.  As an outsider I believe the Sami qualify as indigenous.  Outsiders view the indigenous as primitive and strange.  We miss understanding their culture that would not only help us to better communicate with them, but also how we might benefit. 

Their status has been elevated by contact and intermixing, but the underlying dynamic is caste as they are seen as inferior beings.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/02/caste-origins-of-our-discontents.html 

Reindeer herding is integral to their culture.  At the beginning a Sami nine year old, Elsa witnessed a familiar Swedish man kill her reindeer and threaten her.  She does report the death, but refrains from identifying the man.  We follow her as she ages.  The local Sami feel a need to be on guard against outsiders stealing or killing their reindeer.  They have adapted to modern times by using fencing and snowmobiles are ubiquitous.  

They do suffer discrimination in various manners.  They were resented for their privileges (only they have the right to kill reindeer).  The Swedish police are slow to respond to attacks on Sami or their reindeer.   A slur is to be called "Lapp" or worse "Lapp whore".  Some Sami work in factories, but are mocked for their reindeer connections.  Sami clothing is mocked.  Elsa's mother is Swedish and is frowned upon by some Sami as "rivgu". 

Elsa and her family clash with Robert Isaksson, a belligerent Swede who hurt others, but never seems to be punished for it.  There is one sympathetic policeman who wrestles with his sense of fairness and his ambition.  

We learn about a Norwegian organization, SANKS (The Sami Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Mental Health and Substance Abuse) that uses psychology and understanding of the Sami culture to help with mental health.  Elsa's brother seeks help from them.

The climax involves some moral choices and guilt feelings.  An interesting read to help understand how minorities try to fit in while maintaining their uniqueness.

After the story has been told Ann-Helen offers some suggestions for discussion.

Earlier I did a post on the film.  Check it out  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/02/stolen-film-on-saami-people.html

 Note the different spellings:  Sami and Saami.

Beartown

Recommended by Chris, a library advisor; one detail that got my attention was the author had previously written "A Man Called Ove."  Not read the book, but saw the original Swedish movie and did a blog on it.  I also got into a conversation with someone at work who was recommending the book.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/07/a-man-called-ove.html

No matter how dramatic an incident may be, it always comes with a context.   "Beartown illustrates the value of context.   It is human nature to simplify an explanation, but often the complexity is what we need to understand.  Fiction can sometimes point out the impact of seldom noticed factors.  In university I wrestled for awhile with the difference between psychology and sociology.  I fell under the spell of some excellent sociology professors and appreciated that every individual is impacted by social pressures.  At a later time I now appreciate that it is the individual's psychology (which is similar for all humans) that determines how we react and contribute to that social pressure.

Sports books tend to fit a pattern.  Usually hard work leads to an underdog winning.  Teamwork is important, even in individual sports that require coaches and trainers.  Sports are encouraging for people striving for success in any activity.  Sports, in fact acts as a metaphor for success.

The first part of the story seems fairly typical about a sports team culminating in an important victory.  There is a gradual buildup of characterization that expands in the aftermath of the victory.  Struck by how the author seems to understand typical communication problems between parents and their children and between the children, and among the adults.  Hurt feelings, jealousy, hidden feelings are below the surface.

Teamwork is usually lauded as a commendable thing, but another aspect is featured in this narrative.  To one character, the general manager the concept means he has to do something he doesn't want to do.  He is expected to force the man that brought him back to the town after an NHL career, to resign and not be fired (as that would cost money).  Young promising boys are promoted to older age groups when they are not ready, but for the sake of the team.  On the other hand the team provides a feeling of belonging.

A small town with a high interest in hockey, even seeing it as a tool to attract more business.  They disdain "almost winning."  The general manager is surprised to learn that if the junior team loses a semi-final the club will look for different senior coach.  The current likely candidate will have to win the junior title to be considered.

There are many characters that the author wants to develop so we can better appreciate there are multiple dynamics at play.  It may seem there are two sides to a conflict, i.e. those against and those for.  There are some who harbor guilt feelings and others unsure of the truth.

The town is slowly revealed in a wide variety of aspect.  One group known as the Pack does not want modernization as they would not fit in.  Team sponsors hope to get a hockey school which could lead to a shopping mall.  For some it gives pride to a town with little else.

The author sees connections between politics and sport.  As some deny any connection one character (the wife of the hockey general manager and main character) says "What do you think gets rinks built if not politics?

The focal event of the book is a sexual assault by the most promising hockey player against the daughter of the general manager.  There are a lot of people who are bystanders and much larger group of people who feel the impact.  At these times as the author points out people naturally divide others into friends and enemies.  Hate is simpler than love and we tend to seek facts that confirm our belief.  It is natural to dehumanize the enemy.  It takes courage to stand up to it.

Violence in the course of a hockey game is accepted, but when it goes outside the rink is subject to legal address.  That is becoming a little fuzzier.

Part of the context is the future, but that is really a guess.  The author speculates a bit in a somewhat poetic manner.  This has been my most compelling read so far this year.