The issue was highlighted in the weekly program "15 minutes from Sápmi" in December. In a car park east of the national border, near a popular tourist lake, in Swedish called Trollsjön, there is also a direct translation into Sami: "Ruollajávri".
Never been called that
But that's never how the lake has been named. It has been called Geargejávri, which means Lake of the Rock. More recently, the lake has also been called Riššajávri, as it is formally also called on the map of the National Land Survey.
"Trollsjön is just a tourist name, much like 'Lapporten'," says Kiruna's municipal director Johan Bergstad.
Since protests against the name were voiced in the municipality's and Sami communities' cooperation body Min Ođđa Giron, Kiruna's new municipal leadership has heeded the criticism. The municipal manager has been tasked with ensuring that the sign is replaced.
"I find it strange that a Sami name has been used that is not the original, but instead a direct translation of Lake Trollsjön," says Emilia Töyrä (S), first deputy chairman of the municipal executive board.
Found five other errors
Municipal Director Johan Bergstad says that the sign was developed quickly, when the parking spaces on the E10 were ready.
"It went quickly and wrongly and was due to a lack of skills. Our regular translators were not available, so a different translator was used.
In addition to the direct translation of Trollsjön, five other defects were discovered on the sign, which will now be replaced. Since the construction season in Kiruna is short, it may not be possible for a permanent replacement to take place until next summer," says Johan Bergstad.
Important for safety
He notes that the sign also needs to be corrected for mountain safety reasons.
"If someone doesn't have a map, but takes a photograph of the sign and starts referring to different place names – even if you spell it out, you don't end up right, because it's misspelled," Bergstad says.
How can you sum this up in one word?
– Unprofessional.