Norwegian policy on sami language learning and preservation

Abstract

The article discusses the government policy of Norway, one of the countries that has significantly succeeded in solving ethnocultural problem. It introduces the main stages of the Norwegian government policy towards the Sami people. Special attention is given to the problem of preserving the cultural identity of the Sami and the status of the Sami language in Norwegian society. The article presents the problem of learning and preserving the Sami language through the analysis of Norwegian official state legislation which constitutes the methodological basis of the article. It also considers a number of local and international conventions and acts that are designed to protect Sami rights, as well as the effects these conventions and acts have on the status and situation of the Sami language in Norway. The current status of the Sami language and educational perspectives are considered in a comparative and historical framework. The results presented in the article are intended to raise awareness of cultural identity and inequality of educational opportunities based on ethnic minority background.