Ann-Mari Katharine Thomassen (born 1964) is a Sámi politician and a schoolteacher. A member of the Norwegian Sámi Association and the Sámi Parliamentary Council, she has served as a member of the Sámi Parliament of Norway from 2001 to 2017.[1][2] Thomassen has been a strong supporter of the requirement for Sámi educators to be employed in Oslo's Sámi kindergarten.[3]
Ann-Mari Thomassen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Sámi Parliament of Norway | |
| In office 2001–2017 | |
| Constituency |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | Ann-Mari Katharine Thomassen 18 April 1964 Hamarøy, Norway |
| Alma mater | University of Tromsø |
| Occupation | Schoolteacher |
Biography edit
Born on 18 April 1964 in Hamarøy, Ann-Mari Katharine Thomassen was brought up in various places in Skånland. As of 2009[update], she lived in Sandmark and Renså.[4]
After primary school in Trondenes, she attended high school in Harstad and Narvik (1980–1985). She completed her education as a teacher at the University of Tromsø (1995), specializing in Sámi (1996). Since 1995, Thomassen has taught in Skånland and Tjeldsund. In 1989, she became a committee member of the Sámi association Inna ja Biras, serving as its leader from 1992 to 1994.[2] She also serves on a number of other boards and committees, including the Sandstrand School Choir, Stuornjárgga Sámiid Duodji, the Santor sports association and the Bygdeutviklingsselskap building development company.[4]
Thomassen lives with her partner Sten Jakob Olsen. She has four children: Tom (1986), Henrik (1994), Maja (1998) and Sina (1999). She is fluent in Sámi and Norwegian.[2]
References edit
- ^ "Ann-Mari Thomassen" (in Norwegian). Sametinget. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- ^ a b c "Ann-Mari Thomassen" (in Norwegian). NRK. 17 June 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ "Sametingsråd: Oslo kommune går med på samisk språkkrav i barnehage" (in Norwegian). NRK. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- ^ a b "En fot i begge leire" (in Norwegian). Norske Samers Riksforbund. 26 August 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2019.