The Danish Ministry of Culture informs this VG.

The case has created great commitment recently, and on Thursday last week, the Danish National Museum handed over its professional assessment of the case.

– We are aware of the history and significance of the drum for the Sami people. We have prepared an overall professional assessment, which has just been sent to the Ministry of Culture, which in its case makes the decision about the drum, says research director Christian Sune Pedersen at the National Museum in an email to NTB on Tuesday morning, before the conclusion of the assessment was known.

Strid

Conflict is about a drum that was confiscated in Sápmi during the witchcraft trials in 1691 and sent to Copenhagen for storage at the Danish National Museum.

Today, the culturally important drum is back on Sami soil, more specifically at the Sami Museum in Karasjok, but just on a lending agreement that expires on 1 December this year.

Therefore, the Sami Parliament and the museum foundation RiddoDuottarMuseat have urgently asked to take over ownership of the drum.

The National Museum in Copenhagen states that the drum will remain at the museum in Karasjok until the Danish Minister of Culture has decided the case.

– It will not be recalled in the meantime, Pedersen says.

[ Hvem eier samisk immatriell kulturarv? ]

Historic

Several Norwegian politicians have become involved in the case, and Norway’s Minister of Culture Anette Trettebergstuen (Labor Party) has been clear that she believes the formal ownership of the drum should be transferred to the Sami Parliament in Norway.

Previously, the Danish Ministry of Culture has replied that they are waiting for the professional assessment before they can decide.

The drum in question was owned by Anders Poulsen, who was arrested in 1691 in the Nesseby area. He was accused of possessing an oval object called “Rune-Bomme”.

With this instrument, he had “practiced the evil and wicked magic art,” it was stated in the indictment, according to Ságat.

The rune boom was confiscated and sent to Copenhagen, while Poulsen risks the death penalty for his deeds. While awaiting sentencing, however, he was ax-killed by the sheriff’s boy while he lay asleep.

[ Anmeldelse: Ella Marie Hætta Isaksens bok er samisk, stolt og helt nødvendig. ]