I can imagine the excitement and the expectations befor the journey to Sápmi. The huge land area in the north, which was full of undiscovered treasures, huge forests, rivers and mountains. Our land Sápmi was considered as a large area of wilderness. Natural resourses, just waiting to be discovered.
I imagine the excitement of packing the expedition equipment and setting off as an adventurer to undiscovered latitudes. To be a part of and write the history of the great discover of the north.
Astonished, they looked around, captivated by the beauty of the landscape. Blinded by their greedy desire to discover, thirsting for riches. Undiscovered sensations to register, the mapping of people and families started..
My People became an exotic object so wild and free, savages that must be tamed….
The Expedition
Following a parliament decision, Friday, May 13, 1921, the Swedish National Institute of Racial Biology was established and located in Uppsala. The director of the institute was Professor Herman Lundborg. Several expeditions where arranged to Sápmi to examine the Sami people and to prove sinetificily the inferiority of the Sami people and does justify discrimination and oppression against them …
Jag är nu i Lappland och fortsätter min forskning här, det ser ut som om det skulle giva ganska rikt utbyte. Jag tror mig kunna uppvisa, att de rena lapparna och de mera rena svenskarna äro rasbiologiskt bättre kvalificerade än en befolkning uppkommen genom blandning mellan Svenskar, finnar och lappar..
Reser i afton till Boden och imorgon till Jokkmokk. Bor där på gästgivargården. Reser sedan 10-12 dagar inom olika byar i socknen, men återkommer då och då till Gästis i Jokkmokk. Post dit. Hälsa alla. Din Herman
Källa: Maja Hagerman Käraste Herman.
Our elders They never talked about it They never told It was a shame It was an abuse To undress naked Under examination No one explained why But they saw How those who came Looked at them As if they where less