Samiska berättelser om björnmöten och de två bröderna

Abstract

The Sámi people have had a special relation to the bear. One can find it in stories and in songs, where the bear has an important role to play. My intention is to answer the question, why is the bear so afraid of the brothers? By using oral history as a tool, as presented by Jan Vansina, is it possible to find a core message in stories and yoiks. The yoiking tradition among the Sámi people is a way to tell stories, remembrance and to describe animals, humans and nature. There are hundreds of songs to the bear and in a majority of them do the lyrics describe the bear, its habits and movements. Simultaneously are the two brothers a common thread in many other stories, particularly in forest Sámi areas. By comparing these two themes, the bear and the brothers, we will find a mythical perspective. There are reason why the bear has to be concerned if he meets two brothers.