Noaide
Encyclopedia
A noaidi is a shaman of the Sami people
in the Nordic countries representing an indigenous nature religion
. Most noaidi practices died out during the 17th century, most likely because they resisted the crown; their actions were referred to in courts as "magic" or "sorcery" (cf. witchcraft
). Several Sámi shamanistic beliefs and practices were similar to those of some Siberian cultures.
Noaidis are said to have the role of mediator between humans and the gods. To undertake this mediation, the noaidi communicated with the gods, asking what sacrifice needed to be made by a person so that they might return to good health, be successful in their hunt for food, and even for good weather. Sacrifices were designed by the noaidi to reestablish the balance between the mortal and immortal worlds.
A noaidi could engage in any kind of affair that demanded wisdom; it is said they took payments for their services. The activities included healing people, helping children, making decisions and protecting reindeer
, which represented the most important source of food and were also used as tribute payment.
The sources from which we learn about noaidi are court protocols, tales, excavated tools (such as belts), and missionary reports. The image rendered by missionaries should in most cases be considered mere fable. That Noaidis were punished and in some cases sentenced to death for their "sorcery" should perhaps rather be interpreted as an attempt to obliterate opposition to the crown.
It is probable that the word has come down to both Sámi
and Finnic
languages from the ancient Proto-Uralic language, as there is a possible cognate word also in the distant Uralic language Mansi
.
s were sung on shamanistic rites, this memory is conserved also in a folklore text (a shaman story).
Yoik
s were sung on shamanistic rites. Recently, yoiks sung in two different styles, one of these are sung only by young people. But the traditional one may be the other, the “mumbling” style, resembling to magic spells.
Several surprising characteristics of yoiks can be explained by comparing the music ideal
s, as observed in yoiks and contrasted to music ideals of other cultures. Yoiks, in some instances, intend to mimic natural sounds. This can be contrasted to another music ideal, bel canto
, which intends to exploit human speech organs on the highest level to achieve an almost “superhuman” sound.
The intention to mimic natural sounds is present in some other cultures as well: overtone singing
, and it can be present in certain shamanic songs of some other cultures as well. It may serve also entertainment (game) or practical (luring animals in hunt) functions.
Sami people
The Sami people, also spelled Sámi, or Saami, are the arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe’s northernmost...
in the Nordic countries representing an indigenous nature religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
. Most noaidi practices died out during the 17th century, most likely because they resisted the crown; their actions were referred to in courts as "magic" or "sorcery" (cf. witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
). Several Sámi shamanistic beliefs and practices were similar to those of some Siberian cultures.
Description and history
Noaidis are said to have the role of mediator between humans and the gods. To undertake this mediation, the noaidi communicated with the gods, asking what sacrifice needed to be made by a person so that they might return to good health, be successful in their hunt for food, and even for good weather. Sacrifices were designed by the noaidi to reestablish the balance between the mortal and immortal worlds.
A noaidi could engage in any kind of affair that demanded wisdom; it is said they took payments for their services. The activities included healing people, helping children, making decisions and protecting reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
, which represented the most important source of food and were also used as tribute payment.
The sources from which we learn about noaidi are court protocols, tales, excavated tools (such as belts), and missionary reports. The image rendered by missionaries should in most cases be considered mere fable. That Noaidis were punished and in some cases sentenced to death for their "sorcery" should perhaps rather be interpreted as an attempt to obliterate opposition to the crown.
It is probable that the word has come down to both Sámi
Sami languages
Sami or Saami is a general name for a group of Uralic languages spoken by the Sami people in parts of northern Finland, Norway, Sweden and extreme northwestern Russia, in Northern Europe. Sami is frequently and erroneously believed to be a single language. Several names are used for the Sami...
and Finnic
Finnic languages
The term Finnic languages often means the Baltic-Finnic languages, an undisputed branch of the Uralic languages. However, it is also commonly used to mean the Finno-Permic languages, a hypothetical intermediate branch that includes Baltic Finnic, or the more disputed Finno-Volgaic languages....
languages from the ancient Proto-Uralic language, as there is a possible cognate word also in the distant Uralic language Mansi
Mansi language
The Mansi language is a language of the Mansi people. It is spoken in territories of Russia along the Ob River and its tributaries, including the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and the Sverdlovsk Oblast...
.
Remnants in music tradition
Some of the yoikYoik
A joik, , luohti, vuolle, leu'dd, or juoiggus is a traditional Sami form of song.Originally, joik referred to only one of several Sami singing styles, but in English the word is often used to refer to all types of traditional Sami singing...
s were sung on shamanistic rites, this memory is conserved also in a folklore text (a shaman story).
Yoik
Yoik
A joik, , luohti, vuolle, leu'dd, or juoiggus is a traditional Sami form of song.Originally, joik referred to only one of several Sami singing styles, but in English the word is often used to refer to all types of traditional Sami singing...
s were sung on shamanistic rites. Recently, yoiks sung in two different styles, one of these are sung only by young people. But the traditional one may be the other, the “mumbling” style, resembling to magic spells.
Several surprising characteristics of yoiks can be explained by comparing the music ideal
Ideal (ethics)
An ideal is a principle or value that one actively pursues as a goal. Ideals are particularly important in ethics, as the order in which one places them tends to determine the degree to which one reveals them as real and sincere. It is the application, in ethics, of a universal...
s, as observed in yoiks and contrasted to music ideals of other cultures. Yoiks, in some instances, intend to mimic natural sounds. This can be contrasted to another music ideal, bel canto
Bel canto
Bel canto , along with a number of similar constructions , is an Italian opera term...
, which intends to exploit human speech organs on the highest level to achieve an almost “superhuman” sound.
The intention to mimic natural sounds is present in some other cultures as well: overtone singing
Overtone singing
Overtone singing, also known as overtone chanting, or harmonic singing, is a type of singing in which the singer manipulates the resonances created as air travels from the lungs, past the vocal folds, and out the lips to produce a melody.The partials of a sound wave made by the human voice can be...
, and it can be present in certain shamanic songs of some other cultures as well. It may serve also entertainment (game) or practical (luring animals in hunt) functions.