Nuorttanaste

Nuorttanaste is a Northern Sámi religious publication based in Norway. Founded in Finnmark in 1898 by Gustav Lund, a travelling pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway, it was established partly to communicate Christian teaching to Sámi communities in their own language. Its title means “The Eastern Star.” Although religion has remained central to its identity, the publication also developed into a broader community newspaper, carrying news, correspondence, and letters from readers. The periodical emerged at a time when Sámi-language publishing was limited and literacy resources in Northern Sámi were scarce. For much of the twentieth century, Nuorttanaste was the only newspaper publishing in Northern Sámi, giving it an importance that extended beyond its religious purpose. It helped maintain written use of Northern Sámi, provided readers with news in their own language, and supported the transmission of Sámi cultural knowledge. Its role was particularly significant because it connected religious communication with everyday community life rather than functioning solely as a church bulletin. The publication began with a portable printing press operated by Lund. As circulation and production expanded, it established formal offices in Sigerfjord and later moved between several locations. Its first permanent printing press was established in Gáivuotna Municipality, after which printing operations alternated between Gáivuotna and Oslo for a period. In 1960, the publication established offices in Vuonnabahta, and in 1992 its headquarters moved to Kárášjohka, a central location for Sámi cultural and institutional activity in Norway. For most of its history, Nuorttanaste appeared twice monthly, including during the period surrounding the Second World War. Its current publishing schedule is 11 issues per year. The publication has subscribers in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, reflecting the cross-border distribution of Northern Sámi language and culture across the northern parts of the Nordic countries. Nuorttanaste’s orthographic history reflects changing standards in Northern Sámi publishing. For much of its existence it used the J. A. Friis orthography, which was also used in the Sámi Bible. From 1948 to 1958 it adopted the Bergsland–Ruong orthography, then in use for Northern Sámi in Norway and Sweden, although not in Finland. It later returned to the J. A. Friis system and, since 2004, has used the pan-Scandinavian 1979 orthography. These changes illustrate the publication’s adaptation to evolving linguistic standards while preserving its long-term commitment to Sámi-language print. Today, Nuorttanaste remains an active specialist periodical rather than a mass-market international media brand. Its distinctive positioning combines Christian religious publishing, Northern Sámi-language journalism, and cultural preservation. Its nearly continuous publication since 1898 makes it the longest-running Sámi publication still being published, according to the cited reference material.

Nuorttanaste was founded in Finnmark in 1898 by Gustav Lund, a travelling pastor associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway. Lund, sometimes described as a “sled preacher,” sought to evangelize Sámi communities partly through the use of their native language. The publication’s name means “The Eastern Star.” It began as a religious publication but soon included news articles and letters from readers, creating a balance between the publisher’s religious objectives and the audience’s demand for news in Northern Sámi. The first issue was printed by Lund on a portable printing press. As the publication developed, it established formal offices in Sigerfjord and subsequently moved between several locations. A permanent printing press was eventually established in Gáivuotna Municipality. For a period, printing alternated between Gáivuotna and Oslo. In 1960, Nuorttanaste established offices in Vuonnabahta, and in 1992 its headquarters moved to Kárášjohka. For much of its history, including during the Second World War, Nuorttanaste was published twice each month. It now publishes 11 issues annually. Its subscriber base extends across Norway, Sweden, and Finland, corresponding to the geographic spread of Northern Sámi speakers and communities. The publication has had an important place in Sámi linguistic and cultural history. During much of the twentieth century it was the only newspaper publishing in Northern Sámi. Its pages therefore supported literacy, supplied community information, and helped sustain written Sámi language and cultural expression. The paper’s religious mission also gave it a durable institutional purpose and helped maintain regular publication over many decades. Nuorttanaste’s writing system changed as Northern Sámi orthographic standards evolved. For most of its history it used the J. A. Friis orthography, the system also used for the Sámi Bible. Between 1948 and 1958 it used the Bergsland–Ruong orthography, which was standard for Northern Sámi in Norway and Sweden at that time but not in Finland. It later returned to the J. A. Friis system. Since 2004, the periodical has used the pan-Scandinavian 1979 orthography. The publication has maintained a succession of editors from its founding through the present period. Gustav Lund edited it from 1898 to 1912, followed by Ole A. Andersen, Henrik Olsen Heika, Anders Guttormsen, John Ole Nilsen, Ann Solveig Nystad, Olaug Balto Larsson, and Liv Tone Boine. Ann Solveig Nystad returned to the editorship in 2016. With continuous publication since 1898, Nuorttanaste is identified in the reference material as the longest-running Sámi publication still being published.

• 2004

  Adoption of the 1979 orthography

  [1]Nuorttanasteen.wikipedia.org

  Nuorttanaste began using the pan-Scandinavian 1979 Northern Sámi orthography.

• 1992

  Headquarters moved to Kárášjohka

  [1]Nuorttanasteen.wikipedia.org

  The publication moved its headquarters to Kárášjohka, where it is based according to the reference material.

• 1960

  Offices established in Vuonnabahta

  [1]Nuorttanasteen.wikipedia.org

  Nuorttanaste established offices in Vuonnabahta after earlier periods of movement and alternating printing between Gáivuotna and Oslo.

• 1958

  Return to J. A. Friis orthography

  [1]Nuorttanasteen.wikipedia.org

  After a decade using Bergsland–Ruong orthography, the publication returned to the J. A. Friis system.

• 1948

  Change to Bergsland–Ruong orthography

  [1]Nuorttanasteen.wikipedia.org

  Nuorttanaste adopted the Bergsland–Ruong writing system used for Northern Sámi in Norway and Sweden.

• 1898

  Nuorttanaste founded

  [1]Nuorttanasteen.wikipedia.org

  Gustav Lund founded the Northern Sámi religious publication in Finnmark and printed its first issue using a portable press.

A Northern Sámi-language religious and community periodical whose historical value rests on combining Christian communication, local news, reader correspondence, and long-term support for Sámi literacy and cultural continuity.

• Northern Sámi religious periodical · 1898

  Nuorttanaste

  The publication’s core offering is its Northern Sámi periodical, which combines Christian religious material with news, community information, and letters from readers. It historically appeared twice monthly and currently publishes 11 issues each year. Its cross-border subscriber base includes Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Beyond its religious purpose, the periodical has served as an important vehicle for Northern Sámi literacy, written-language continuity, and cultural communication.

• 2004

  Adoption of the pan-Scandinavian 1979 orthographyOther

  Background

  Nuorttanaste had used several Northern Sámi orthographic systems during its history, including J. A. Friis and Bergsland–Ruong.

  Action taken

  The publication adopted the pan-Scandinavian 1979 orthography for its written content.

  Aftermath

  The change aligned the periodical with a broader orthographic standard while continuing its Northern Sámi publishing mission.

  Source

1. 1Nuorttanasteen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Nuorttanaste official websitenuorttanaste.no