In early 2023, Sami author, duojár and artist Fredrik Prost launched the book Leŋges hearggi, Sáhčal fatna (Ready the Reindeer Stag, Breathe Out the Boat).

Prost himself says about the book: "Writing this book was very important to me because I believe that we need to return to our spiritual roots. We not only need to protect the land area, this is required of us, not only in the physical reality, but also on a spiritual level. Our traditional spirituality is what connects us to the land and makes the Indigenous perspective special. When I began my journey some twenty years ago, I would have needed a book like mine.” 

Prost has a wide interest in Sámi drums and their history, which has meant that he is today a respected drum maker in Sápmi. His book gives the reader an understanding of the history of the drum and its central place in the Sami worldview and the relationship between people and nature.

About Fredrik Prost: 

Fredrik Prost is a Sámi duojár and dáiddár from Viikusjávri on the Swedish side of Sápmi. Prost currently lives and works in Giron, and grew up in a reindeer herding family with skilled Sami duojárs who inspired and taught him to make duodji based on knowledge that has been passed down for generations. His work has been shown in major galleries around the world, such as the National Gallery of Canada and Liljevalch's art gallery in Stockholm, and his art has also been exhibited in several parts of Sápmi and Scandinavia. He has received many prestigious awards such as the Asa Kitok prize at the Jokkmokk winter market in 2016. 

Over the past decades, Prost has carried out extensive work with the Sami noaidi drum to promote Sami spiritual knowledge. He has had a central role in teaching and keeping alive the techniques of making the traditional Sámi meavrresgárri (drum), and assessing its relevance to Sápmi today.

The conversation is led by Niillas Holmberg.

This conversation will be held in Northern Sami and is organized in collaboration with Sami Writers Association.