"Why do you call that cat Muestilienin, Dad?", I asked him when we took a break from unloading the winters fire wood off the back of the truck. "Muestilienin is Gypsy in Finnish. That cat is always roaming off."
I never met his mother. I learned she was a mother of ten and would bake bread wonderful bread every day to feed her family. I only have seen one faded picture of Anna, sitting in a wheel chair surrounded by all her children. She had beautiful long dark black hair. I always wondered why a Finnish woman would not be blond. I learned later, Anna was a Muestilienin.
When we were in Finland, we some how ended up, more by chance than anything in Inari, at the Sami museum.
While at the museum I saw images of my brother and my sisters.
One Monday at work I filled out a new affirmative action form. When I checked the "other" box under race I could see that picture of Anna smiling more clearly.
*If my links didn't link, here they are:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_people
http://boreale.konto.itv.se/webmstr.htm
P.S. Today my boss offered me a raise. Is it because I am minority?
Friday, August 08, 2008
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4 comments:
... of course the greatest Sami-language film of all time is:
Pathfinder
Alas, only available on VHS!
My Grandpa Kangas had jet black hair. I wonder if I am sami?
I had never heard of it Batty. But thanks to you, it is on it's way to me now.
Grace, I have no doubt.
... K1 and K2 should love it as well!
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