Mats Jonsson began writing the comic book When We Were Sami with curiosity about his family as a driving force.
It was after his grandfather died that Mats found out that he had a Sami history.
Until his grandfather was in his 30s, he was a reindeer herder in Samå in Malå in Västerbotten.
- I wanted to know where my grandfather came from, I wanted to know about my family.
My grandfather kept quiet about his background for the rest of his life, says Mats Jonsson and continues:
- He left that life and kept quiet about it for the rest of his life.
I was told that my grandfather was Sami when I was 10-11 years old, but it was as if my parents did not seem to pay much attention to it.
It was not something that was talked about that much, so I did not really care.
"A way to explore a Sami identity"
The motivation to start the work came after a visit to the Sami exhibition at the Nordic Museum in Stockholm with his daughter.
- I told about our background and she became very curious and wanted to know more.
And then I realized that I know nothing more.
I can not say anything, because I know nothing.
- The policy that has been pursued has created silence and shame and now I can help lift the lid and get out these forgotten stories and I am very happy about that no matter what it leads to.
Are you Sami?
Culturally, I'm not Sami, I grew up like any Swedish 70s artist in Norrland.
So I see it as if the work with this book has in some way been a way to explore a Sami identity as well, says Mats Jonsson.
A longer version of this report can be seen in the cultural program "Sweden!" Friday, September 24th.