New Sami Art Criticism Journal Gaskkas Launches with Raisa Porsanger on Editorial Team

The recently introduced Sami cultural journal, Gaskkas, seeks to fill the void of critical discourse surrounding Sami art and culture. Visual artist Raisa Porsanger, who is part of the editorial team with Sigbjørn Skåden, Aslak Heika Hætta Bjørn, and Mikkel Berg-Nordlie, emphasized a 'screaming need' for this type of analysis. Skåden launched the initiative after receiving support from Arts Council Norway for Sami criticism. The inaugural issue, focused on 'art and criticism,' features articles in North Sami, Norwegian, Swedish, and English, covering themes such as activism, identity struggles, and reviews of diverse artworks. Named 'Gaskkas,' meaning 'juniper' in certain North Sami dialects, the journal promotes a 'no translation' policy to uplift smaller Sami languages and encourages internal discussions. It has secured funding for two issues, with the second expected in autumn.