Episode 2. Putting Sápmi on the Map. Sámi Activism through Art with Elle-Hánsa/Hans Ragnar Mathisen

Thinking About Indigenous Religions

In this episode we have the privilege to be joined by Elle-Hánsa, a Sámi artist, cartographer, and indigenous activist, to talk about how, through his art, he became a Sámi activist. Elle-Hánsa is also known as Hans Ragnar Mathisen (his Norwegian name), and Keviselie (a name given to him by his Naga friends and relatives).

Elle-Hánsa's first map of Sápmi offered a unique vision of Sápmi without the borders of the nation-states (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia), which he took to the World Council of Indigenous Peoples at the Tseshaht Reservation (BC, Canada) in 1975. The map featured Sámi place names, which were previously unknown for many, including Elle-Hánsa himself, who shares with us his personal journey of losing and then learning his mother tongue.
Elle-Hánsa introduces us to his ways of map-making, drawings of Sámi drums
and the art work featuring Sámi árran designed for the cover of the book Indigenous Religion(s): Local Grounds, Global Networks (Routledge 2020). Visit Elle-Hánsa's webpage to find his maps, drawings, graphics, poetry and essays. For those who live in Tromsø, you can also visit Elle-Hánsa's exhibition at Bei Jing Home restaurant.
This podcast is brought to you by INREL and GOVMAT from the Department of Archaeology, History, Religious Studies and Theology at UiT The Arctic University of Norway.
Recording studio and technical support: UiT Result.
Musical intro and outro: Lasse Michelsen.
Host, editor and logo designer: Liudmila Nikanorova.