Connecting and correcting : a case study of Sami healers in Porsanger
Miller, B.H.
Citation
Miller, B. H. (2007, June 20). Connecting and correcting : a case study of Sami healers in Porsanger. CNWS/LDS Publications. CNWS Publicaties, Leiden. Retrieved from
https://hdl.handle.net/1887/12088
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Connecting and Correcting
A Case Study of Sami Healers in Porsanger
Proefschrift ter verkrijging van
de graad van Doctor aan de Universitet Leiden, op gezag van Rector Magnificus prof.mr. P.F. van der Heijden,
volgens besluit van het College voor Promoties te verdedigen op woensdag 20 juni 2007
klokke 16.15 uur door
Barbara Helen Miller
geboren te Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, USA in 1949
Promotiecommissie:
Promotor:
Prof. Dr. J.G. Oosten Referent:
Mw. Dr. N.J.M. Zorgdrager Overige leden:
Prof. Dr. P.J. Pels Prof. Dr. P.J.M. Nas Mw. Dr. S.W.J. Luning
CNWS Publications Leiden
Connecting and Correcting
A Case Study of Sami Healers in Porsanger
CNWS Publications, Vol. 151
CNWS publishes books and journals which advance scholarly research in Asian, African and Amerindian Studies. CNWS Publications is part of the Research School of Asian, African and Amerindian Studies (CNWS) at Leiden University, The Netherlands.
All correspondence should be addressed to:
CNWS Publications c/o Research School CNWS Leiden University
PO Box 9515, 2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands.
cnwspublications@let.leidenuniv.nl www.cnwspublications.com Title: Connecting and Correcting
A Case Study of Sami Healers in Porsanger Author: Barbara Helen Miller
Leiden: CNWS Publications.
(CNWS Publications, Vol. 151) ISBN: 978-90-5789-151-9
Subject headings: Sami; shamanism; anthropology; healing; Arctic studies; Laestadianism Printing: Ridderprint, Ridderkerk.
Cover design: Dolphins on Fire, Wouter Buning, Groningen Layout: Johanneke Oosten
Coverphoto: Barbara H. Miller
© Copyright 2007
Research School CNWS, Universiteit Leiden, The Netherlands
Copyright reserved. Subject to the exceptions provided for by law, no part of this publication may be reproduced and/or published in print, by photocopying, on microfilm or in any other way without the written consent of the copyright-holder(s); the same applies to whole or partial adaptations. The publisher retains the sole right to collect from third parties fees in respect of copying and/or take legal or other action for this purpose.
V
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements IX
Map of North Scandinavia X
Map of Porsanger Municipality XI
Introduction 1
The Project 1
Meeting the Sami 1
Central questions 3
Introducing the Coastal Sami 4
Social Developments among the Coastal Sami 4 The impact of World War II as related by my informants 8
The situation after World War II 12
Construction of this book 15
1 Studies on Sami Shamanism 17
Lapponia 18
Helpers and songs 19
The drum and drum performance 21
Fragmenter i Lapska Mythologien 26
The gods 27
Prophecy 28
Recent studies in traditional Sami shamanism 29
The Sami noaidi 30
Noaidi and shamanistic activities moving into modern times 34
Gand 34
Categories of sorcerer and shaman 37
Trance – ecstasy 43
2 Laestadianism on the Coast of Finnmark 49 The conversion of the Sami in Finnmark 49
Influences from Sweden 52
Laestadianism 53
The founder and early years of the movement 53 The spread of the movement and early opposition 59
Core issues and debates 62
VI
Laestadianism among the Coastal Sami in Porsanger 66
Core issues and debates 68
Laestadian meetings 73
Conclusions and Remarks 76
3 Encounter Experiences 79
The presence of exceptional beings 79
Gufihttarat (subterraneous beings) 80
Other underground people connected to a location 84
Fárru (travelling group) 86
Rávggat (water trolls) 87
Eahpáražžat (dead-child beings) 88
Gomit (ghosts) 95
Gáccit (groups of helpers) 97
Vuoigna (spirit) 99
Fárrosaš, Mannasaš and Ovdasaš 100
Animal helping-spirits 105
Bijat (spell) 106
Conclusion 109
Encounters 109
4 Discourse on the Noaidi and the Healer 111
Use of the term noaidi and shaman 111
Noaidi and shaman in local newspapers of today 111 Current local views on the activities associated with the noaidi 114
Johan Kaaven (1837-1918) 120
Johan Kaaven as depicted in literature 120
Facts about Kaaven’s life 127
Johan Kaaven as healer 128
Lars Pedersen, also known as Gamvik (1873-1942) 136
Facts about Gamvik’s life 136
Gamvik as healer 137
Healers in the period 1935-1970 140
Healers 140
Present day healers 142
Britt Kramvig’s Ingmar 142
Mikkel Gaup 144
Hjalmar 147
Discussion 150
VII
5 Nanna 155
Nanna’s Life 155
Life in Sandvik 156
Life in Stabbursnes 158
Children 159
Making a living 160
World War II 160
Life on the farm 163
Dealing with Norwegian law 164
Relations with Reindeer Sami 165
Social problems 167
Laestadianism 168
Healing 168
Cupping 169
The inheritance from Gamvik 175
Diagnosis 177
Nanna’s discourse 181
The discourse of Nanna’s patients 184
Summary 190
6 Sigvald 193
Sigvald’s Life 193
Fishing rights 199
Sami identity 205
Healing 211
Prelude to inheritance 211
Transfer of Nanna’s gifts 213
Cupping 214
Nanna’s further teaching 217
Diagnosis 221
Dreams 223
Establishing Sigvald as healer 226
Sigvald’s discourse 228
Discussion 234
7 Connections. Summary and Conclusions 237
Continuity – Worldview 237
Roles and functions of the former noaidi and of the
present day healer 237
VIII
Elements from the Laestadian worldview 239
Transmission 241
Trance and vision 243
Location and time 245
Connection – correction 247
Baptism and naming 249
Practices 250
Different traditions/families 252
Dynamics of articulation 254
Conclusion 256
Glossary 258
Index of Authors 261
Bibliography 263
Samenvatting 269
Appendix: A day of cupping 273
Curriculum vitae 280
IX
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to thank those many people who contributed to this research project.
My first expression of gratitude is to my former mentor Dr. J. H. Kamstra for encouraging me to undertake research. I am grateful to Dr. Jens-Ivar Nergård for allowing me to join him on a fieldtrip that led to contact with my main informants and to Dr. Jojada Verrips for guiding my initial steps. I thank the Sami healers who generously granted interviews: Mikkel Gaup and Hjalmar Persen. I am greatly indebted to Nanna Persen and Sigvald Persen. Their support and cooperation has been instrumental and basically decisive for this project. They provided me with many interviews, and additionally, gave access to their patients. I want in particular to thank Sigvald for his active involvement. I thank the residents of Porsanger Municipality who shared with me their experiences and insights: Johannes A. Guttorm, Rávdná Guttorm, Karen Rávdná Eira Guttorm, Per Johannessen Guttorm, Nils Persen
Guttorm, Anna Guttorm, Ruth E. Forsberg, Solveig Tangeraas, Nan Persen, Åge Persen, Ole Eliassen, Sigrid Alette Eliassen, and Nils Anders Guttorm.
Members of the Research Group Circumpolar Cultures and the Research Group Pentecostalism of the Hollenweger Institute commented on earlier versions of this dissertation and I greatly appreciate their help. I am grateful to Pastor Stef de Wit for the sharing of his knowledge; to Willy van Tellingen for many services rendered; to my aunt, Ruth Freeman, for reviewing and editing; and to my mother, Helen Miller, for her availability and support of my work. I am deeply grateful to you all.
X
Map of North Scandinavia
XI Map of Porsanger Municipality
