Áhčča

By Sarakka Gaup/Ellána Bireha Áillu Sarakka
In Collaboration with Dramatikkens Hus and Ibsen Scope

Ailo Gaup, Aslak Nilsen Gaup, Ellána Bireha Áilu, Nige Nillasa Áilu, Store-Ailo, Oslo-Ailo. 

Novelist, poet, journalist, teacher of shamanism.

A Sami. Who was supposed to become Norwegian. Who became Sami again.
Victim of Norwegianization.
Victim of colonization.
This is far from a story of victims.
Ailo was taken by the Sami Mission and placed in a Norwegian foster home.
What was  he getting from that?
A future, an education, a civilized life.
And what did he lose?
Culture, identity, language.

I write about a part of Norwegian history known to few.  Many know about boarding schools and foster home schemes for indigenous children in Greenland, Canada, USA and New Zealand. This also happened in Norway.

This story needs to be told. And it needs to be told by me. For he who experienced this, is the one who gave me life. My father. Welcome to the story of a life, about the importance of roots, a theatrical version of my testimony to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report, a proud daughter’s tribute, and the anecdote about when my father gave me “Brand”.

In the soundscape of a shamanic drum journey and his yoik.

Sarakka Gaup
Sarakka Gaup/Ellána Bireha Áillu Sarakka is a Norwegian-Sami actor and playwrite from Oslo and Kautokeino/Guovdageaidnu, Norway.
Sarakka Gaup is an MA-student at Oslo National Acadamy of Performing Arts and has worked at several Norwegian theatre institutions like Det Norske Teatret, Hålogaland Teater, Det Samiske Nasjonalteatret Beaivváš, Kloden Teater and Riksteatern and Giron Sámi Teáhter – Det Samiske Teatret in Sweden. She has also worked in film and tv.

Sarakka Gaup has been awarded several awards, including Sametingets Kultur- og idrettsstipend og Sparebankstiftelsen Nord-Norges Talentstipend.

At the Sami House in Oslo, Gaup works with Sami language, art ansd culture and she also works as a dramaturge and consultant for Unge Viken Teater in collaboration with Kvääniteatteri, Åarjelhsaemien Teatere og Beaivváš Sámi Našunálateáhter.