Saami seek traditional leave

Manus Trosten, leader of the Norwegian Saami National Association, wants to give all Saami, the indigenous people of northern Europe, two weeks more vacation time.

The proposed vacation period would help Saami “get better acquainted with their cultural heritage.”

“The state has deprived the Saami population their language and culture by means of suppression. Now the state has to make up for it,” said Trosten, who said the proposed holiday time should be called “cultural revitalization.”

Trosten heads the Norwegian Saami National party in the Saami Parliament.

The association is the biggest Saami organization in Norway. There are about 80,000 Saami in Norway.