Juhán Niila Stålka | Joik & Stories

Through joik, family memories and personal stories, Juhán Niila Stålka invites you to a joik and storytelling concert rooted in the Sámi history of Jokkmokk.

Joik is a traditional Sámi form of vocal expression. Deeply rooted in the Lule Sámi joik tradition, Juhán Niila shares joiks of people, animals and places from the area around Jokkmokk. Some have been passed down for five generations. Together with his stories, they offer an opportunity to get to know the local Sámi history through his own family’s experiences and connections to the landscape. When words fall short, we use joik as a tool to remember.

Growing up in southern Sweden, Juhán Niila learnt to joik from his father on their journeys north. Holidays were spent with his Áhkko and Áddjá, his grandparents, near Stuor Muorkke, Stora Sjöfallet. These journeys and family relationships shaped his connection to the place he now calls home.

Moving between seriousness and play, Juhán Niila brings personal experiences and family history into his storytelling. There are joiks of secret silver caches, but also cryptocurrency. Through these connections between past and present, he hopes to offer a deeper understanding of joik and a more nuanced picture of Sámi life today.

Juhán Niila has performed at Dramaten, Sweden’s Royal Dramatic Theatre, Skansen, Norrlandsoperan, Márkomeannu and Korröfestivalen. After all his events at last year’s Jokkmokk Winter Market sold out, this year’s concerts move to the larger auditorium at Östra skolan, making room for more people to share the experience.

The storytelling is in English. Juhán Niila also uses the Sámi language as part of his artistic expression, weaving words and expressions naturally into the stories. No previous knowledge is needed, though you may pick up a little Sámi along the way.

Stålka Lávdde, Östra skolans aula, Kyrkogatan 4, Jokkmokk.
Duration: 1 hour. Language: English.
Standard: SEK 300. Children under 15: SEK 150. Limited seats.
Tickets: https://lillstalka.com/jokkmokksmarknad/juhan-niila-stalka
Photo: Jamie Stevenson.