Kirsti Paltto
Encyclopedia
Kirsti Paltto is a Sámi
author who writes mainly in Northern Sámi
. Her books have been translated into several languages, including Finnish
, German
, Norwegian
, English
, Inari Sámi
and Hungarian. Paltto currently resides in Utsjoki.
Sami people
The Sami people, also spelled Sámi, or Saami, are the arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe’s northernmost...
author who writes mainly in Northern Sámi
Northern Sami
Northern or North Sami is the most widely spoken of all Sami languages. The speaking area of Northern Sami covers the northern parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland...
. Her books have been translated into several languages, including Finnish
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Norwegian
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Inari Sámi
Inari Sami
Inari Sámi is a Uralic, Sami language spoken by the Inari Sami of Finland. It has approximately 300 speakers, the majority of whom are middle-aged or older and live in the municipality of Inari. According to the Sami Parliament of Finland 269 persons used Inari Sami as their first language. It is...
and Hungarian. Paltto currently resides in Utsjoki.
Children's and young-adult books
- Vilges geađgi (1980, illustrated by Tuula Mukka)
- Go Ráhkun bođii Skáhpenjárgii (1982)
- Golleozat. Sápmelaš álbmotmáidnasa vuođul. (1984, illustrated by Merja Aletta Ranttila)
- Dávggáš ja násti (1988, illustrated by Sigga-Marja Magga)
- Divga (1990, illustrated by Mika LaunisMika LaunisMika Launis is a Finnish illustrator and graphic designer who studied graphic design at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. For his final project, he did the illustrations for a children's book written in Northern Sámi. Launis has illustrated several books, mainly children's books...
) - Urbi (1994)
- Ája (2007), illustrated by Inghilda Tapio
Fiction
- Soagŋu (1971 short storiesShort storyA short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
) - Risten (1981 short stories)
- Guhtoset dearvan min bohccot (1987)
- Guovtteoaivvat nisu (1989 short stories)
- Guržo luottat (1991)
- 256 golláža (1992)
- Suoláduvvan (2001 short stories)
- Násttit muohtagierragis (2007)
Plays
- Liemmajoen Anni, play (Rovanniemi City Theater 1976)
- Maahiset, radio play (YLE 1977)
- Háhtežanáhkku, children's play (Puppet Theater Kuukkeli 1978)
- Niilan porovaara, radio play (YLE 1981)
- Eatnanvulošája, children's radio play (Sámi Radio 1985)
- Jiella, radio play (YLE 1990)
- Dat ráhkesvuohta, play (Rávgos Theater 1994)
- Gáiggonat, play (Rávgos Theater 1995)
- Váimboustibat, play (Rávgos Theater 1996)
- Girill von Dáktelus, play (Rávgos Theater 1999)
- Boahtteáigái, play (Rávgoš Theater 2003)
Other literary works
- Saamelaiset (pamphlet from 1973)
- Savvon. Sámi Girječálliid Searvi antologiija (editor, 1983)
- Aitmatov: Girjját beatnaga dievva (translated in cooperation with Eino Kuokkanen 1993)
Awards
- Sokeain kuunnelmapalkinto 1977
- Cultural Award from the Province of Lapland in FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
1977 - Short-listedShort listA short list or shortlist is a list of candidates for a job, prize, award, political position, etc., that has been reduced from a longer list of candidates . The length of short lists varies according to the context.-U.S...
for the Finlandia PrizeFinlandia PrizeThe Finlandia Prize is the most prestigious literary award in Finland by the Finnish Book Foundation. It is awarded annually to the author of the best novel written by a Finnish citizen , children's book , and non-fiction book...
1986 - Cultural Award from the Sami Parliament of FinlandSami Parliament of FinlandThe Sami Parliament of Finland is the representative body for people of Sami heritage in Finland. The parliament consists of 21 elected mandates...
1997 - The Helen Prize (2000)
- Literature Award from the Saami CouncilSaami CouncilThe Saami Council is an umbrella organization for Sámi organizations in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The Saami Council was founded during the 2nd Sámi Conference held in Karasjok, Norway on August 18, 1956 as the Nordic Saami Council. After the first Russian Sámi organization was accepted...
2001)