Helvi Poutasuo
Helvi Poutasuo was a Finnish teacher, translator, and newspaper editor in the Sámi language, as well as a politician and a Sámi cultural influencer. She was the first lecturer in Sami language at the University of Oulu.Biography
Helvi Nuorgam was born in Utsjoki, October 15, 1943. Her parents were Niiles Nuorgam and Magga Nuorgam. The father's family was from Utsjoki and Inari, while the mother's family was from Utsjoki. Poutasuo attended schools in Ivalo and Mäntsälä. In 1962, she was selected as the New Finland High School Girl. She studied Finno-Ugric languages, including the Sámi language, at the University of Helsinki.
In 1967, she married Kari Poutasuo. She was a lecturer in the Sámi languages at the University of Oulu from 1970 to 1972. She edited the Sámi language, Sápmelaš magazine with Pekka Sammallahti, Samuli Aikio, and Sulo Aikio. The editorial board of Sápmelaš was awarded the State Prize for Information Publication for its newspaper work in 1976.
From 1976 to 1987 and 1992 to 1995, she was a member of the Sámi Parliament of Finland. From 1996 to 1999, she was a member of the Saami Council.
Jacobsen died in Utsjoki, July 16, 2017.
