Ellen-Sylvia Blind
Ellen-Sylvia Blind (1925–2009) was a Swedish Sami writer who grew up in a family of reindeer herders. She is remembered for contributing to the Sami languages by recording her memories of Sami life in her native northern Sami. A devout Christian, she wrote poems, some of which have been set to music.[1][2][3]
Biography
Born on 12 July 1925 in Jukkasjärvi, Kiruna Municipality, in the far north of Sweden,[4] Ellen-Sylvia Blind was brought up in family of reindeer herders where she spoke northern Sami as her mother tongue. In 1946, she married Lars-Johan Blind, also a reindeer herder, with whom she had six children. They continued to live in northern Sweden for the rest of their lives. Ellen-Sylvia ran the home but also participated in traditional crafts such as sewing.[1]
After attending the Sami adult education school in Jokkmokk, she was able to write books in her native language. In 1976, she recorded her memoires, including her years at school, in Muitot ja jur’dagat (Memories and Thoughts), where she commented on the discrimination the Samis experienced, especially when they were forbidden to use their own language. A devout Christian, she went on to publish Mu osku ja eallin (My Faith and My Life) in 1981. Of particular interest is her Sogas sohkii (Family to Family) in which she stresses her wish to preserve Sami traditions for younger generations. She was also a profuse poet, several of her poems being set to music.[1]
Ellen-Sylvia Blind died on 5 May 2009 and is buried in the cemetery at Arjeplog.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Heith, Anne (8 March 2018). "Ellen-Sylvia Blind". Svenskt kvinnobiografiskt lexikon. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ "Ellen-Sylvia Blind". The History of Nordic Women's Literature. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ "Blind, Sylvia" (in Swedish). Libris. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ "Blind, Ellen Sylvia, r. 1925" (in Northern Sami). Sámi leksikon internehtas. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
Further reading
- Anne Heith: Ellen-Sylvia Blind, Sami author at Svenskt kvinnobiografiskt lexikon
- CS1 Swedish-language sources (sv)
- CS1 Northern Sami-language sources (se)
- SKBL template using Wikidata property P4963
- Articles with ISNI identifiers
- Articles with VIAF identifiers
- Articles with WorldCat Entities identifiers
- Articles with BIBSYS identifiers
- Articles with LCCN identifiers
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- Articles with KULTURNAV identifiers
- 1925 births
- 2009 deaths
- People from Luleå
- 20th-century Swedish writers
- 20th-century Swedish women writers
- Swedish non-fiction writers
- Swedish women non-fiction writers
- Swedish poets
- Swedish Sámi-language writers
- 20th-century Swedish non-fiction writers