The role of sport organizations for local and national community - the case of Sami sport organizations

摘要

Research question: This paper investigates (1) how representatives of Sami sport clubs understand local and national communities, and (2) and the role of the sport organization in the creation and perception of local and national community. The study contributes to the research field by showing how sport organizations are the basis of the community, locally and nationally. Research methods: Interviews were conducted with seven board members representing five Sami sport clubs in four municipalities. The sport clubs were all members of the Sami sport organization, and located in core Sami areas where Sami language and culture is manifested in everyday life. Sami are the indigenous peoples of the northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and north-west Russia. Results and findings: For sport club representatives, Sami sport refers to specific activities associated with Sami husbandry heritage, and to the Sami sport organization. Sport clubs function as community organizations at the local level. Moreover, through affiliation with the Sami sport organization, the sport clubs are the link to the Sami national community. Sami indigeneity is played out internally in the local community as well as on the borderline to other communities with other ethnic compositions.