The experimental audio play Hierggenjárgga/Härrgenjárrga substas – Hernes tells, gives the listeners a bunch of snippets of the course of life from the past, present and future, and is a sonic narrative about nature-culture in eternal interaction at Hierggenjárgga/Härrgenjárrga/Hernes.

The work challenges dominant historiography by making room for speculative connections, voices of other species, and intergenerational knowledge of a specific place. What power lies in owning a story, and how might the landscape sound different if one listens more deeply?

The common bittern, which has historically nested on Hernes-myra, is one of the species we encounter in the work. The common bittern disappears from the cultural landscape when marshes and wetlands are drained and developed and is a critically endangered species. When the country is facing a climate crisis and where biodiversity loss is closely linked to the destruction of nature, it is more important than ever to ensure that the common bittern and other vulnerable species have a protected breeding and living area.

The sound work and accompanying posters are about connecting us to the local areas we live in and experience through various actions. One of these is to unearth stories about Sami ownership of
Bodø /Bådåddjo/The Buvvda peninsula, which has both coastal, Pite and Lule Sami origins, to listen to
intergenerational knowledge and not taking old historiography for granted. This work has taken place through collaboration and conversations with, among others, Lule Sami knowledge bearers Andrine Øvervoll Eivik, Heidi Birgitta Andersen and Eivind Langåsen.

" As an artist born in the south living in Sábme/Northern Norway, I am particularly concerned with acknowledging the Sami and the multicultural population in Salten and Lofoten/Lofuohta. Being able to listen humbly, gain knowledge where it is lacking, provide resources and create dialogue, is what we need together to achieve good urban development and for a possible future reconciliation." - Elin Már Øyen Vister

Cast:

Anne-Marie Austad, biologist/advisor, Dokka Delta
Children from Jentoftsletta kindergarten, Lule Sami department
Jan Wasmuth, ecologist
Per Arne Mikalsen, Falck, foreman, flight side, Falck

Narrator voices:

Andrine Øvervoll Eivik
Anne-Cecilie Pedersen
Heidi Birgitta Andersen
Ken-Philippe Tete
Sander Andersen

Music, sound, voices:

Andreas Mjøs, recording narration, mixing and mastering
Children at Jentofsletta kindergarten, Lule Sami department
Elin Már Øyen Vister, composition, field recordings, clips, various recordings
Heidi Birgitta Andersen, Haŋŋá, vuolle
Julia Karen Olea Paulsen, Haŋŋá, vuolle
Ola Høyer, double bass
Robert Jønnum, recording and raw mix of double bass
Robin Støckert, Soundscape studios – technical system, sound installation
Trygve Misvær, Burddogájse vuolle / Børvasstindan´s joik (acapella)

The work also contains:

Haŋŋá luohti / Havellas joik in the form of double bass improvisations by Ola Høyer
Susanne Lundeng – Havella (Drag, 1994)
Vegard Øyen – Ærfugldun in My duvet (Piano Waltzes in Major, 2021)

Lapis lazuli. Critically endangered. Photo Harald Misund