Ruoktot – The Return of Sámi Drums (Saemiene)

Ruoktot – The Return of Sámi Drums is a 50th-anniversary exhibition for The Sámi Collections, established in 1972.

Ruoktot is North Sámi for "returning home." Three-dimensional images of five Sámi drums form the core of the exhibition. One of these drums has already been returned to Sápmi, while four others are still awaiting their journey home to be reunited with their people.

The travelling exhibition is based on an anniversary exhibition that opened in April 2022 at RiddoDuottarMuseat (RDM) – Sámiid Vuorká-Dávvirat (SVD) in Kárášjohka (Karasjok). It focuses on the repatriation of Sámi drums and marks the transfer of ownership of Anders Poulsen’s gievrie (drum), which had been housed at the museum since 1979, to RDM-SVD in January 2022. The drum was officially repatriated from the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen to RDM-SVD. This was a joyous occasion for all those who had worked for decades to bring the drum back into Sámi ownership.

The travelling exhibition is a collaboration between Sámi museums:

RiddoDuottarMuseat (RDM) – Sámiid Vuorká-Dávvirat (SVD), Ájtte, Árran, Nordlandsmuseet, Saemien Sijte and Siida.

It has received support from the Sámi Parliament in Norway and from the Nordic Council of Ministers through Nordic Culture Point.

The exhibition opens on 27 February at Saemien Sijte and runs until 23 May.

Read more about the exhibition here:

RUOKTOT – A Travelling Exhibition