Nils-Aslak Valkeapää
Nils-Aslak Valkeapää, known as Áillohaš in the Northern Sami language (23 March 1943 – 26 November 2001), was a Finnish Sami writer, musician and artist. He was born in Enontekiö in Lapland province, Finland. He lived most of his life in Käsivarsi, close to the border of Sweden, and also in Skibotn in Norway. Valkeapää was born to a family of traditional reindeer herders, but was trained as a school teacher. His most well-known international debut was when he performed at the opening ceremony of the 1994 Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. He received the  Nordic Council Literature Prize for "The Sun, My Father" in 1991. Works. The traditional Sami singing of the joik was important in his music, as well as in his painting and in written works. He was first recognised as an artist for his joik during the 1960s, with his first recording "Joikuja" from 1968, which contained modernised joik. Valkeapeää wrote the music to the motion picture "Ofelaš", internationally known as "The Pathfinder" in 1987, which was directed by Nils Gaup. As a writer, he mainly wrote in Sami with his work translated into other languages and eventually published eight collections  of poems. One of his best known is "Beaivi áhčážan" which has been translated to English, titled "The Sun, My Father". Nils-Aslak Valkeapää died in his sleep in Espoo on 26 November 2001. Posthumous publication of Nils-Aslak Valkeapää's work includes two poems included on his godson Niko Valkeapää's eponymous début album. An article published by the Music Information Center Norway stated, "In his trademark, understated style, Niko composes melodies that weave their way into and out of his godfather’s words. Nils Aslak Valkeapää was one of the foremost exponents of Sami art and culture through  his long and distinguished career as a poet, composer and artist. Says Niko on his godfather’s influence: 'I can’t deny that Nils Aslak was a role model for me – he was a figure that I would look up to. He has been a source of inspiration and I have included two of his poems on my album to pay homage to him.” A recording of Nils-Aslak Valkeapää performing his joik (for the soundtrack of Pathfinder film) forms the centrepiece of "Prayer for the Earth", a track on "The Songs of Distant Earth", the 1994 album by British  musician Mike Oldfield. Personal life. Valkeapää was bisexual, but hid his sexuality throughout his life. Written works. Poems