It All Started with the Words "Kiss My Ass" | Oscar Sedholm | TEDxKI

In his talk, Oscar Sedholm unearths the dark truth behind his family's history, and how the indigenous Sámi people in Sweden were enticed and coerced to give up their religion, their language, their lands, and their very identities. By exposing historical trauma and spreading knowledge of Sámi/Swedish history, he hopes to bring on positive change and to build a future where there will be no shame in saying: I am Sámi. Oscar Sedholm is a southern Sámi indigenous behavioral scientist. Oscar has spent the last fifteen years trying to understand why his family’s history and identity were shamed into silence. An avid writer and debater, he has explored themes of colonization, revitalization, identity, power dynamics, resource politics, and culture in Sweden.
For eight years, he was a representative in the Swedish Sámi Parliament and also served as party secretary for the Hunting- & Fishing Sámi Party. He is also an author, musician, hobbyist photographer, and filmmaker. He currently resides in Umeå, where he works as a communications officer. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@DFWGrapher]

Thank you for this talk! My great-great-great grandfather was a Pumpanen/Pumbanen from Sodankylä, and I have been told they were a Forest Sami family. While I knew my family came from the northern parts of Finland, it wasn't until I was well into my 30s that I learned anything about the Sami or my family's connections to them. And I always want to learn more.

[@oscarsedholm]

Hm, I think I recognize that guy from somewhere.

[@vamp_who]

I've never been this early