Pacific Sámi Searvi

09/26/2026

Today’s the day!! We’ll see you at Centennial Park at 3 p.m.!! ❤️💙💛💚

09/25/2026

Looking forward to seeing everyone SATURDAY! ❤️💙💚💛 Rain doesn’t seem to be in the forecast, but I (Amy) made a trip to Centennial Park today to see what it was like in the rain. Answer: soggy but covered … and kind of magical. 🌧️💖

I also looked at the offerings sold at Cafe Hagen, located in the same sheltered area where we’ll meet. They looked positively scrumptious! (Slurp. 😋) The nearest parking spots aren’t terribly many, so consider carpooling if you can, or even parking a little farther away and enjoying a stroll along a beautiful stretch of waterfront!

Join us tomorrow, Saturday the 26th, at 3 p.m.! Bring crafts to work on if you feel like it, snacks to share if you feel like it, or just your splendid company. We’ll be the ones at the picnic table brandishing the Sámi flag!

Where: Centennial Park
Address: 955 Alaskan Way W., 98119
When: 3 p.m.

09/23/2026

We’re so excited for our in-person meetup this Saturday, and we can’t wait to see you! We’ll be at Seattle’s Centennial at 3 p.m. - look for the Sámi flag!

Where: Centennial Park
Address: 955 Alaskan Way W, 98119
When: 3 p.m.

09/22/2026

Greetings all! I (Amy King) wanted to pass along a Sami-related event: I will be moderating this online presentation this afternoon (Sept. 22) with Barbara Sjoholm, who will be discussing her new book, SÁMI FOLKTALES FROM THE NEAR AND FAR WORLDS. (Note: This event is presented by Scandinavia House, not the Pacific Sámi Searvi.)

This wonderful book is Sjoholm’s translations of stories collected from Sápmi a century ago. Having it available for English-language readers is a gift, as is Sjoholm’s excellent introduction. The book is fantastic, and for anyone interested in the Sámi or folklore, it is an absolute must-read.

The online event is at 4 p.m. Pacific time, 7 p.m. Eastern. (Note: This event is presented by Scandinavia House, which is in New York, so the time they list for the event is 7:00.) Click the link below to register. Hope you can join us!

Join us on September 22 for a virtual discussion of Sámi Folktales From the Near and Far Worlds with translator Barbara Sjoholm!

09/18/2026

Sept. 26 gathering update!

Come join us at Seattle’s Centennial Park on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 3 to 7 p.m.! We’ll be at the picnic tables near the amenities building, which features bathrooms and a Scandinavian cafe! Bring crafts to work on if you feel like it, snacks to share if inspired, and/or just your pleasant self for socializing, storytelling, laughter and excellent company.

We won’t be able to have a fire this time, unfortunately, due to the burn ban that’s in place through at least the end of September. But we’re thinking that having the chance to gather around a fire is very important - and there’s no such thing as too many gatherings, right? - so we’re looking to schedule another get-together, with fire 🔥, within the next few months!

Centennial Park is at 955 Alaskan Way W, Seattle, 98119. Click the link for more information on Centennial Park! Hope to see you there on Sept. 26 between 3 and 7! 💙❤️💛💚

Centennial Park was rededicated in 2011 to commemorate the Port of Seattle's 100th anniversary. Connected by pedestrian and bike paths to the City of Seattle's Myrtle Edwards Park, the park features scenic green space and occasional seal and sea lion activity in Elliott Bay, and is regarded as one o...

08/20/2026

SAVE THE DATE! Let's get together and hang out around the fire! Bring crafts to work on, stories to tell, food or drink to share if so inspired, and/or just your own good self and community vibes.

Saturday, September 26, afternoon and into the evening. Location to be announced; stay tuned for more details. Hope to see you there!

06/16/2026

I recently received Barbara Sjoholm's latest translation, Sámi Folktales From the Near and Far Worlds, and began an extraordinary folktale journey. The introduction gives a historical perspective of folktale traditions and the men who collected, studied and published them, their biases not so great as to lessen the power of the stories. It's an impressive collection-300 stories on 469 pages with glossary and footnotes-transcribed by Just Knud Ovigstad and Isak Saba, now translated into English by Barbara. As I've been reading, I've found myself around an imaginary fire, my head filled with friends and enemies, Stallú, trolls, ghosts, animals and sea creatures! Recently, a young Sámi friend visiting from Trømso picked up the book and began to read aloud while I made dinner. A few stories later she said, "yes, these are the stories I heard as a child," proving, at least to me, the continued relevance of beings from the near and far worlds to modern life.

Sami Folktales is 30% off until July 1st. Click below and you will also find a link to Barbara's podcast about translating the collection.https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-sale-scandinavia/

05/21/2026

This is the whole video with this treasure of a woman Mari-Ann Kind Jackson at The national Nordic Museum in Seattle last year. I just loved the time spent with her, and the interesting stories.

I do regret not filming better footage, but I am grateful for this amazing experience. It definately made me understand better the history of the Sámis in north America!

Thanks to Pacific Sámi Searvi for giving me this experience! Mary Brandt from PSS is also in this video and was kind enough to set up this meeting for us.

Norwegian Mari-Ann Kind Jackson has been a part of this museum from the beginning, and it was such a great afternoon for Mary Brandt and I to have this tour with such a knowledgeable and illustrious woman.🌞 Tusen takk! Ollu Giitu! 🙏🤩

This explains the other way that so many Sámis ended up in the US. "THE GREAT IMMIGRATION" in the end of 1800s. These Samis would typically hide their Sámi background, and arrive as any other Norwegians, Swedes, Finns and so forth...

I do recommend a visit to this museum if you are in Seattle!
They had not left out the history of Sámi people - which was a win in itself, but they also had done a great job in how they portrayed the Sámi people there. I was happy to see that 😃

05/16/2026

If you're planning to join us tomorrow for the Syttende Mai parade, follow or comment on this post. We'll update here as we have more information.

We are number 76 of 89 entries, so we likely won't start marching from our staging area until at least 6:30, but please plan to join us by 6 p.m. so you have time to fill out the release form and deliver it to the parade management booth at Adams Elementary (NW 62nd St & 28th Ave NW). We will have copies of that paperwork where we're staging (location TBA).

Be aware that parking is a challenge, so allow extra time to find a spot for your car, and buses may be running off schedule due to the traffic and the parade route closure.

If you have a gákti/gappte, please feel free to wear it, or PSS/Sámi-related merch, or red/yellow/green/blue clothing. Bunads and regalia/accessories from other Indigenous groups are also welcome. But the most important part is that you join us!

It's looking like the weather will be overcast but not rainy. 🤞

We look forward to seeing you!

05/12/2026

Syttende Mai is Sunday, May 17, and PSS will march in the parade. You should march with us! The parade starts at 6 p.m., and you can find the parade route at https://www.17thofmay.org. Hope you’ll join us Sunday!

SEATTLE’S Annual Celebration of Norwegian Constitution Day Grunnlovsdagen (transl. The Constitution Day) The Constitution, declaring Norway an independent nation, was signed at Eidsvoll, Norway on May 17, 1814. The celebration of this day began spontaneously among students and other people in earl...