Sami people have gone through brutal treatment, in similar ways to the atrocities faced by Native Americans, but Sweden and the United States have handled their reparations towards their native people very differently. I learned about what Sweden did to Sami people over the centuries, as the government tried to eliminate Sami culture and assimilate their people into Swedish life. Only recently has the country tried to amend its actions and help establish a (somewhat) decent relationship with the native people. One example is making one of the Sami tribal languages a nationally recognized language, so that they can gain access to T.V. programs they can understand. Alas, the fight for Sami people is far from over, but learning about the government’s approach in dealing with just a handful of topics gave me a new perspective that made me question the ideas I’ve been taught.
Slowly, but surely, I am beginning to think about myself in a global context, and not just from an American point of view.
