Máhcaheapmi (Responses) #4: Björnfesten Jam Session

Björnfesten Jam Session is a series of events taking place on Saturday 24 May, at Liljevalchs in Stockholm. The programme runs throughout the day and includes several performances and a joik workshop for children.

More details, including exact times and locations within Liljevalchs, will be announced closer to the event.

Björnfesten Jam Session is based on experiments and improvisation through joik, music, and oral storytelling. It brings together artist Carola Grahn, composer and percussionist Jakop Janssønn, joikers Simon Issát Marainen and Jörgen Stenberg, and actor Sarakka Gaup to explore how the Sámi bear rite might be reimagined and practiced today.

Björnfesten, or the Bear Ceremony, is an ancient Sami ritual. The origin of the rite stems from a myth that transcends Sámi and northern polar Indigenous peoples. The bear holds a sacred place in the Sámi worldview, believed to possess more-than-human powers and supernatural abilities. Historically, the rite included multiple parts and a feast that could last for several days. Archaeological sites across Sápmi reveal bear graves with the bones, usually from a single bear carefully arranged.

The stories of Björnfesten are still vivid through ancient jojks and oral storytellings but the rite itself is no longer practiced.

Liljevalchs is Stockholm’s largest and oldest institution for Swedish and international contemporary art. This performance takes place in Carola Grahn’s solo exhibition Drick Drick at Liljevalchs+. The exhibition runs from March 28th to August 10th 2025. Read more about the exhibition here.

Björnfesten Jam Session takes place in the context of Máhcaheapmi (Responses), a two-year public programme of Indigenous-led gatherings that use art to foster critical reflection, resistance, and knowledge-sharing. Initiated by Office for Contemporary Art Norway (OCA) in partnership with Sámiráđđi / The Saami Council in the wake of the 2023 report by Norway’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the project addresses the enduring impact of forced assimilation policies targeting Sámi, Kven, and Forest Finn communities.

The Truth Commission for the Sámi People report from Sweden is underway and their findings will be published by December 1st of 2025. It is a government inquiry established after the petition from the Sámi Parliament.

Participants

Carola Grahn
Carola Grahn, born 1982 in Jåhkåmåhkke (Jokkmokk), Sæpmie, is a South Sami artist. Her practice critically examines human estrangement from nature and the destructive legacy of colonialism, which continues to inflict suffering on natural and human communities. Grahn embeds references to Western popular culture and art history as a foil to the Sámi worldview and holistic understanding of nature that forms the enduring core of her art. She received her master's degree from the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm in 2013. Grahn's work has been exhibited internationally at prestigious venues such as Buffalo AKG in New York, Southbank Centre in London, Nuit Blanc in Toronto and Museum of Contemporary Native Arts in Santa Fe.

Jakop Janssønn
Jakop Janssønn, born 1986 in Romssa (Tromsø), Sápmi, is a Sea Sami drummer and composer. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree in jazz performance and composition. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in artistic research with the title "Sámi ritmmat / Sámi Rhythms." Throughout his professional career, he has gradually shifted his focus to the Sami music scene, driven by a deep commitment to preserving and revitalizing culture and traditions. He is actively involved as a composer for a number of commissioned works, Janssønn has created compositions for festivals, films, theatre, and ensembles such as the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Hålogaland Theatre, MinEnsemblet, Vokal Nord, and the Arctic Philharmonic.

Sarakka Gaup / Ellána Bireha Áillu Sarakka
Sarakka Gaup / Ellána Bireha Áillu Sarakka, born 1991, from Oslo and Guovdageaidnu (Kautokeino), Sápmi, is a North Sami Norwegian actress and playwright. She trained at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO). Gaup has performed with several of Norway’s major theatre institutions, including Hålogaland Teater, the Sami National Theatre Beaivváš, Riksteatern in Stockholm, and Giron Sámi Teáhter – the Sami Theatre in Sweden, among others. Gaup is a playwright for the Sami National Theatre Beaivváš. Following her graduation from KHiO, she made her stage debut at Det Norske Teatret. She has also appeared in the film La Elva Leve / Ellos Eatnu and the TV series Verden er min.

Simon Issát Marainen
Simon Issát Marainen, born 1980 in Vuolle Sohpar (Nedre Soppero), Sápmi, is a North Sami joiker, reindeer herder and actor. His work is deeply rooted in Sami traditions and reflects themes of nature, identity, and cultural resilience. He moves freely between Western tones and 1000-year-old tradition and is described as a broad and deep voice artist. He debuted as a solo artist in 2008 and co-authored the poetry collection Vidd/Viidát – dikter från Sápmi in 2006. Marainen is featured in the forthcoming film ÁRRU, the first-ever Sami musical film.

Jörgen Stenberg
Jörgen Stenberg, born 1972 in Máláge (Malå), Sábmie, is a Ume Sami joiker, storyteller, actor, activist, and reindeer herder. He plays an important role in carrying on the Ume Sami joik tradition, and has twice won the Sami Grand Prix joik competition. Stenberg released his debut album Vuöllieh in 2013 and has been a strong advocate for Sami culture through his work with projects like the children's choir Mánáj Vuölie and the mentoring program Russuoh Vuölieb. He has participated in the acclaimed film Sameblod (2017) and appeared in Snödrömmar (2024).