1 of 4 people in Vesterålen have Sami ancestry. But does the amount of place names reflect this? Borgos presented the idea that many place names we might consider to be Norwegian, could perhaps be Sami, or alernatively a mix of both languages.
In week 43, we celebrate Giellavahkku, Sami Language Week, where the Sami language is highlighted. Language Week is an initiative from the Sami Parliament that seeks to raise the status of the Sami languages, and increase knowledge about Sami language and culture. This week, the Sami languages will be seen and heard. Read more about Giellavahkku here: Samisk språkuke – Sametinget
For the occasion, we want to share Johan Borgos’ lecture from Øksnes Museum and Sortland Museum in 2022, where we learned about Sami place names and Sami lineage in Vesterålen.
During the lecture, Borgos highlighted that Vesterålen was a cultural meeting ground for Norwegian and several forms of Sami. This is because the whole of Vesterålen in the 1700’s and 1800’s was a “marriage market” where people travelled far and created common cultural ground.
Borgos calls the mix of Sami and Norwegian place names a part of our common cultural heritage. In both Norwegian and Sami, common names usually consist of a descriptive word + a root word. In some cases, the origin might actually be a Sami descriptive word and a Norwegian root word.
One example is the name Ridderset – an avalanche-prone place in Sigerfjord. The origin ofSkriđarsetr is Old Norse, but in Sami the pronunciation of “sk” is dropped. It will thus be Riddarseatta, which in Norwegian is now called Ridderset. Another example is Jørland (from Sami jávri = vatn), with the Norwegian root word land. Kavåsen may also have such an origin – where kav can come from gávva, which means bend. Many such examples can be found in the region.
From Johan Borgos’ lecture (reproduced with permission).
By learning Sami nature words, you might discoved that several Norwegian place names that don’t seem to fit what they’re describing, might have a more descriptive name in Sami. Examples include Bukkekjerka (Buohkkagiergie), Gummikirka (Gobmi-giergie). A Sami word for rock (giergie) might be mistaken for “church” in Norwegian. Bilde: Bukkekjerka from Borgos’ lecture (shared with permission).
Could this be the case for other names, like Kavåsen (Sami gávva = bend) and Romset (Sami ruomsa = bear)? Image of Kavåsen from Borgos’ lecture (shared with permission).
This was a very interesting lecture with a skilled communicator. Those who want to learn more about Sami history in the region can, for example, read Borgos’ book Samer ved Storhavet, published in 2020.
Sami place names in Sortland and Øksnes, respectively. From Johan Borgos’ lecture (reproduced with permission).
Sami cultural heritage in Vesterålen
Sami place names have also been a topic during Arne Håkon Thomassen’s dialogue tour in 2025. Thomassen is an archeologist at the Sami Parliament, and held a lecture in Øksnes and Bø about Sami cultural memories. Place names were mentioned, among others “Finn-kirka”, which might be an interpretation of the Sami “Finn-giergie”.This highlights the importance of documenting words and expressions only used in the vernacular.
According to Thomassen, there have been few registrations of Sami cultural memories in the region. This is because it, amongst other things, requires funding and effort. It’s important to register these memories and names while those who carry the knowledge are still alive.
The audience asked, among other things, how to recognize the Sami cultural monuments in the landscape. You can read about this on the Sámi Parliament’s website: Samiske kulturminner og landskap – Sametinget
In addition, you can see already registered cultural monuments here: Hjem – Kulturminnesøk.
The public is also encouraged to contact Thomassen and the Sami Parliament if they come across anything that may be cultural monuments that have not been registered.