Senter for nordlige folk

About the museum

Senter for nordlige folk, in Sámi Davvi álbmogiid guovddáš (DÁG), is a Sea Sámi museum and a living Sámi cultural centre in Manndalen (Olmmáivággi) in Kåfjord. The centre is to preserve, develop and convey Sámi culture, indigenous culture and the cultures of northern peoples, with particular emphasis on the Sea Sámi tradition. Under the same roof there is also a Sámi language centre, a library, a kitchen, exhibition rooms and offices, and several Sámi organisations are based here, among them the Sámediggi (Sámi Parliament) and the festival Riddu Riđđu.

The centre's history goes back to 1988, when Sámi organisations took the initiative for a Sámi meeting place by extending Manndalen village house (bygdehus). The centre was extended in several stages in 1995, 2005 and 2009, and in 2007 Statsbygg was commissioned to build new premises for a Sámi museum and library. The extension was completed in 2011.

The permanent exhibition "De čalbmi ii olat guhkibuidda – Så når øyet ikke lenger" (in English roughly: the eye no longer reaches that far) opened on 6 February 2024. It follows the traces of Sámi settlements in Nord-Troms and is based on cultural-historical objects returned through the Bååstede project. The museum also shows the historic Sjåbakkenhuset, a house built after the evacuation during the Second World War, when all the houses in Manndalen had been burned down.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition "De čalbmi ii olat guhkibuidda – Så når øyet ikke lenger"
• Cultural-historical objects returned through the Bååstede project
• Sjåbakkenhuset from the post-war reconstruction
• Traditional Sea Sámi gamme (turf hut)
• Centre shop with duodji (Sámi handicraft) and literature from Sápmi

Permanent exhibitions

• De čalbmi ii olat guhkibuidda – Så når øyet ikke lenger – Permanent exhibition on Sámi settlements in Nord-Troms, based on cultural-historical objects returned through the Bååstede project.
• Sjåbakkenhuset – The historic house that Nils Anton Andersen Sjåbakken and his mother built after they came home to Manndalen following the evacuation during the Second World War.

Founded

2011

Operated by

Senter for Nordlige Folk AS

Admission & discounts

Visits to Sjåbakkenhuset are arranged by email (post@nordligefolk.no) or by telephone on +47 911 04 059.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Children and young people up to 15 years enter free of charge.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The centre shop sells duodji, literature, jewellery, hats, mittens, belts, knives and herb seasonings from suppliers in Sápmi. The centre's Sea Sámi kitchen serves local traditional food on request.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 150 guests.

Culture hall for up to 150 people, function room for about 30, meeting rooms for 10–20, the Nisga’a house for 80, a Sea Sámi gamme for about 20, and lavvoer (Sámi tents) for 15–70 people. Catering from the centre's Sea Sámi kitchen.

Plan your visit