Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute to Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen

March 8 2023

The Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute is awarded to actor and activist Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen (24) for her efforts to protect a minority and the indigenous rights of the Sámi.

She was one of the leaders of the peaceful demonstrations of civil disobedience in Oslo in February/March, protesting the Norwegian government’s failure to follow up the Supreme Court judgment on the wind turbines at Fosen in Trøndelag County. Artist and activist Isaksen has become a strong symbol of the resurgence of the fight for indigenous rights in Norway, 40 years after the Alta demonstrations.
“This struggle first came to light in Sámi art and culture, leading to greater awareness of indigenous rights among the general public, especially young people. In this context, Isaksen has been a key figure in bringing together culture, activism and efforts to protect a minority and indigenous rights in ways that have reached an exceptional number of people. She has sparked important social debates and reflection processes”, according to Grete Brochmann, Chair of the Fritt Ord Board.

Musician and documentary filmmaker
Isaksen has been a prominent musician and activist for nearly a decade. In 2016, she won the Sámi Grand Prix, in 2017, Liet International, and, in 2018, the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation’s ‘Battle of the Stars’. Since 2017, she has been the leader and vocalist in the synth pop band ISÁK, which has attracted national and international attention.
Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen plays a leading role in the new feature film now in theatres, entitled ‘Ellos Eatnu – Let the river live’ (2023), about the Alta controversy. She played the protagonist in the documentary film “Rahcan – Ella’s rebellion”, released in 2022, allowing insight into her prolonged efforts as a Sámi environmental activist, not least in the Repparfjord case. In 2021, she published the book “This is why you need to know that I am a Sámi, about her struggle against Norwegianification and discrimination.

The awards ceremony
The tribute will be awarded to Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen at the Fritt Ord Foundation’s premises in Uranienborgveien 2 in Oslo, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 30 March.
The Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute consists of the sum of NOK 100 000. This recognition is awarded by the Fritt Ord Foundation’s Board for invaluable activities in the service of free speech, often in connection with current issues. Fritt Ord also awards the Freedom of Expression Foundation Prize each year.

News

No Other Land – special screening at Kunstnernes Hus Kino

November 26 2024

Join us for a special screening of the film No Other Land, announced as one of the most important and influential film of 2024.

Location: Kunstnernes Hus Cinema
Date and Time: Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 6:00 PM – 7:35 PM

Khalid Albaih and Tetiana Khodakivska

Witnessing War: A Conversation in the BOMBA Exhibition with Khalid Albaih and Tetiana Khodakivska

November 26 2024

Welcome to a conversation with Sudanese political cartoonist Khalid Albaih and Ukrainian filmmaker Tetiana Khodakivska in Dag Erik Elgin’s exhibition BOMBA at the Skylight Halls of Kunstnernes Hus in Oslo on Thursday, December 12, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Frie stemmer Deeyah Khan:

November 24 2024

Dokumentarfilmskaper Deeyah Khan startet sin karriere med å lage en dokumentar om en kvinne som ble utsatt for æresdrap. Filmen ble vendepunktet i hennes anvendelse av ytringsfriheten, sier hun. Khan er basert i London og jobber internasjonalt.

– Det som skiller Norge fra mange andre land, er evnen til å delta i konstruktiv offentlig dialog rundt vanskelige og ofte polariserende temaer. Samtidig kan vi bli flinkere til å inkludere et større mangfold og flere minoritetsstemmer, sier hun.

Intervjuet er på engelsk.

Hilde Gunn Slottemo

Seminar on freedom of expression at the Norwegian Parliament: "Stop talking about technology platforms as though we have no way to control them.”

November 20 2024

“It is possible to regulate technology platforms”, stated former Minister of Culture Trine Skei Grande on 19 November, when the Presidium of the Storting invited the public to a seminar on freedom of expression.
“We are not without options for exercising control”
To protect freedom of expression in a digital era, it is important that we dare to regulate the international technology platforms and social media, and that we are on the alert for the negative effects of artificial intelligence and deep fakes.