GET TO KNOW US PROJECT

March 21, 2024

Get to Know Us is a project that will help to increase knowledge about national minorities and indigenous peoples in Norway, and is initiated and administered by the KUN Association - Centre for Diversity and Equality, Oslo, Norway.

The aim of the Know Us project is to increase expertise on national minorities and indigenous peoples in Norway. The background of the project is the realisation of the fact that the Norwegian population has insufficient knowledge about the group "kven"/Norwegian Finns, Jews, Forest Finns, Roma and Roma/Tatar. There is also a lack of knowledge about the six Sami groups that have a long history in Norway: Skalt Sami, Northern Sami, Lule Sami, Pite Sami, Ume Sami and Southern Sami. This was clearly highlighted in the Norwegian Institute of Human Rights' 2022 report. Through the project website, which contains podcasts, films, photos and a chronology of important historical events mentioned in the podcasts, you will learn about the history of the different groups.

In the videos Norwegian participants of Roma origin talk about what is best for them with their background, but also what they think the Norwegian population should know about the group and what is important for them for the future.

Within the project, the difficult period of the Norwegian transition in Norway from the mid-nineteenth century to the post-war period clearly emerges as a common historical framework that has implications for all groups. The Norwegian language was erased, families were separated from each other, deprived of land they had owned for centuries, and contributed to persecution and death. 

At the same time, there are similarities when it comes to the importance of music, crafts and, not least, the importance of community and the strength of unity. Last but not least, it becomes clear how important it is to know history in order to understand the present.

The project is funded by Bufdir.

Video interview - Somnakai, Roma from Norway

Video interview - Palermo, Roma from Norway

Video Interview - Amorina Lund, Roma from Norway

The project "I have a dream" is implemented with the financial support of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway under the Active Citizens Fund of Bulgaria within the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area. All responsibility for the content of the document is borne by the Association Liberal alternative for Roma civil union - LARGO in partnership with KUN Center for Equality and Diversity - Norway and under no circumstances can it be assumed that this document reflects the official opinion of the Financial Mechanism of the European economic space and the Operator of Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria. www.activecitizensfund.bg .

I Have a Dream project is being implemented with financial support from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway under the EEA Financial Mechanism. The main goal of the project "I have a dream" is to test, implement and disseminate innovative methods for empowering Roma women and girls through direct advocacy.