Marja Helander

Marja Helander (born 29 August 1965) is a Finnish urban Sámi photographer, artist and filmmaker.

Early life
Marja Helander was born in Helsinki, Finland, where she still works and lives. Helander's mother is Finnish and her father is a Sámi from Utsjoki. Even though Helander grew up in Helsinki, she spent her vacations with her father's family in Utsjoki.

Education
From 1985-1986, Helander studied at the University of Helsinki. In 1986, she started studying painting at the Liminka Art College. In 1988, she graduated from the Liminka Art School and she started studying visual arts at the Lahti Institute of Fine Arts, from which she graduated in 1992. After that she started to study photography at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki, Finland, graduating in 1999. Since Helander learned Finnish and not Sámi at home, she moved at some point to Inari to study the Sámi language and culture at the Sámi Education Institute (Sámi oahpahusguovddáš). <!-- In her works, Helander usually showcases encounters between the Finnish and Sámi cultures and the search for her own identity. For example, in her final piece, Sukupolvet, for the Lahti Institute of Fine Arts she  su loahppabarggus jagi 1992 Lahti dáiddainstituhtas Helander guorahalai ja suokkardii iežas sámeidentitehta dán perspektiivvas ahte son lea helssetlaš sápmelaš. Seamma jagi lei su vuosttaš sierra čájáhus Helssega ruovdegeaidnostašuvnnas.

Dan maŋŋel Helander lea duddjogoahtán čullosiid ja installašuvnnaid ja geavahišgoahtán ee. bohccočoarvvi eahpeárbevirolaččat. Son lea govven sápmelaččaid gaskavuođa ruvkeindustriijai ee. Silence – Jaskes eatnamat -prošeavtta govaiguin ja videoiguin. Oanehisfilmmaiguin fas Helander lea buktán oaiviliiddis Sámi oamastangaskavuođaid ja -rivttiid hárrái. Jagi 2016 Helander guovttos Outi Pieskiin cuiggodeigga dáládáidága musea Kiasma Jenni Hiltunena videodáiddafilmma oastimis musea čoakkáldagaide danin go filmmas nissonat dánsot ja jorahit bađaset albmáid fákegávttit badjelis. Seamma jagi Helander, Pieski ja Pauliina Feodoroff gáibidedje Nordea-báŋkku geassádit ruhtadeamis Dakota Access Pipeline -oljobohcci mii huksejuvvui miellačájáhusaid fuolakeahttá dattetge Standing Rock Sioux -reserváhtii Davvi-Dakotas USA:s eamiálbmogiid alkuperäiskansojen maille yhdysvaltojen Dakotaan rakennettavan öljyputken rahoituksesta.

Stáhta visuálalaš dáidagiid doaibmagoddi juolludii Helanderii viđa jagi dáiddárveahkkeruđa jagi 2015. -->

Awards

 * 1994 – Fotofinlandia finalist
 * 2018 – Risto Jarva Award for Birds in the Earth