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Work contracts and first-class
hotels
The exhibition of Sami people was part
of a larger trend in the Western world
that grew during the 1800s. Representa-
tives of foreign nations, and from what
would eventually be thought of as "pri-
mitive" peoples, were brought to Europe
and America where they showed visitors
what their everyday lives were like. These
presentations were held at major world's
fairs and expositions and as travelling
exhibits in zoos, amusement parks and
at circuses. Baglo has examined and
surveyed information from roughly 400
Sami who participated in these exhibi-
tions between 1822 and 1950.
"By thoroughly examining the stories
of everyone who was on 'exhibit', and
by taking an empirical approach, I have
found that the Sami had many different
incentives for allowing themselves to
be put on exhibit, and that they made
something of these many different expe-
riences. In addition to earning money,
many learned foreign languages, which
laid the foundation for their later educa-
tion. They had contracts that governed
their work assignments, pay and travel
expenses and the medical supervision of
both people and animals. At the Chicago
World's Fair in 1893, for example, a
group of Southern Sami negotiated a
contract that included a clause that pro-
vided them accommodation in first-class
hotels during the exhibition."
Sad stories, too
But there are also stories of exploitation
and poor working conditions, of course.
The contracts were not always adhered
to, and the conditions were sometimes
not in line with what many had been led
to expect.
"My conclusion is, however, that whene-
ver you are dealing with living human
beings, they will always be involved and
will have an influence on the way they
represented – in contrast to wax dolls
that came to museums in later times. The
living exhibitions were always characteri-
zed by an exchange of interests between
the various individuals involved, and I
think the most accurate way to perceive
the exhibitions is as a resource for eve-
ryone involved," she said.
There was no lack of critical voices
during the period, however, and also
from the Sami side. The question of what
and who was a real Sami, and how the
Sami people should be represented were
central issues. Some Sami participated in
the exhibitions out of economic neces-
sity, while others were almost full-time
professional actors.
"Many gifted Sami transformed this
experience into a means of making a
living. And we should also not under-
estimate the power of these exhibitions
as an early forum for indigenous people.
At the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893,
the South Sami Daniel Mortensson stood
side by side with the Sioux Indians,
something that probably led to subse-
University of Tromsø –
Labyrint E/11
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11
"From the World's Fair in Chicago, 1893." P.H. Coney, the concessionaire, is in the middle of the picture. Daniel Mortensson is to the left with his youngest son in the cradle. Source:
Chicago History Museum
Text: Sigrun Høgetveit Berg