The market is on

2012-02-01

The Winter Market is on! Accompanied by jojk and ice-instrument music the Winter Market 2012 was declared officially open. Simon Marainen and Olof Tomas Utsi were awarded as front figure bearers of the Sami culture together with other local enthusiasts. Per Kuhmunen arrived with his reindeer pulling a sledge carrying the Opening Ceremony speech-holder Elisabeth Lax, Head of Culture, Norrbotten County Council, up onto the stage. The Winter Market fire was lit and the market open!

Per Erik Kuoljok tolled the reindeer bell as another symbol of the market now being opened, much to the joy of the audience which greeted back with a gloves-muted applause from within the warmth of the minus 20 degrees cold evening. Per Erik's speech, in which he acclaimed the Jokkmokk Winter Market, was held on both Sami, Swedish and English languages and rounded-off by his own atmospheric jojk session. Simon Marainen was awarded a scholarship, Proud Sami Culture, in the category of Music.

-        I'm, happy, so it will be a happy jojk... I will jojk Nils Henrik Labba, says Marainen a breath before his voice rings out in the crisp cold air.

His determination and inventive resourcefulness, his courage and stamina to always endure, together with the hope that he will carry forward the Sami inheritance with its jojk, songs, poetry, theater and novel-writing, were part of the jury motivation in his electing. The jury consisted of the scholarship intitutioners Ridderheims and Falbygdens and Jokkmokks korv och rökeri.   

Olof Tomas Utsi received a food-scholarship for his glowing interest of the Sami food inheritance. A glow each and every never wants to go out. For their great interest in and impact on the local music-scene Mikael and Sigrid Segerström were awarded together with Lena Lindberg and Valborg Mangs Märak.  

The instruments made of ice came into their very own in the cold evening. The musicians mastered strings and drums as they had never before performed during any other circumstances. One more set is scheduled to Thursday at 5 PM and the same venue. 

The Winter Market 2012 is on!