We wanted to make the story of the Halde and Talviktoppen easier for more people to find, understand and use. That's why today we're launching halde.no in Sami and English.
"It's a small but important milestone for us. We've been working on this project for a long time, step by step, and the goal has always been for the language choice to work in practice - not just look good on paper.
For many people, Halde is a place they encounter through northern lights research and the buildings at the top - and through the experience of standing on a point in the landscape that means something. But Halde is also a place with Sami significance, in an area where Sami language and culture belong. When we at Haldetoppens Venner work to preserve and communicate the history of the Halde and Talviktoppen peaks, it therefore becomes clear that communication is also a responsibility.
Chairman, Håkon Kristian Haldorsen, puts it this way:
«The point is that this should be useful. When you choose a language, you should be able to find and get the information you need in a way that works.»
A project we have built step by step
Multilingualism is not just about translating a few paragraphs. For it to be usable, everything has to fit together: structure, menu items, fixed texts, historical references and practical information. That's why we've had to go through the website as a whole, organising, adapting and testing along the way.
We've worked at a pace befitting a voluntary organisation: prioritising the most important things first, and building from there.
The project is also anchored in the organisation. The annual general meeting has decided that multilingual accessibility will be one of our priorities in 2026. The board has followed up with specific solutions: what should be translated first, how the language selection should work, and how we can keep this updated within our volunteer framework. Work is also underway to find a Sami, Kven and English name for the organisation, which is planned to be adopted at the annual meeting in 2027.
Multilingualism as part of the whole
We didn't start this because someone asked us to. We started it because we think it's right that Sami should have a real place in communication when we work in a Sami language area. For us, it's about Sami not being an add-on, but a language that can actually be used - on a par with Norwegian.
Haldorsen emphasises names and concepts:
«When we use Háldi and Sami terms where they belong, the communication becomes more precise. It also means that the website better reflects the place.»
«It was society at large that took away the name Háldi. Now we're trying to give some Háldi back.»
The English version is first and foremost about accessibility. We know that many people who are curious about Halde don't necessarily speak Norwegian or Sami. When basic information is available in English, it's easier to understand what kind of place this is - and what we're working on.
We also have a long-term goal: to add the Kven language to the website. Once we build a multilingual solution, we want it to be able to accommodate more languages over time. Kven is therefore a natural part of our future plans, even though we don't have the capacity to implement it in this launch.
At the same time, Kven is about more than just adding a new language choice. We need good translations, the right terminology and a way to maintain the content so that Kven becomes a real and usable part of the website. If you have any knowledge of Kven, or know someone who can help with language, terminology or quality assurance, please contact us.
Why do we put so much effort into this?
We've put a lot of work into the project because language matters in practice. Language makes information easier to understand, but it also says something about who the content is made for. When more people can read in a language they feel comfortable with, it becomes easier to find, use and participate in the website.
That's why it's important to us that Sami and English aren't just “extra pages”, but actual language versions that work. At the same time, we are a voluntary organisation, and that affects the pace. It's not the costs that are the biggest obstacle, but the time we have available.
As Haldorsen says:
«It doesn't cost much in terms of money, but in terms of time it costs us a lot of effort. We don't have the opportunity to hire someone to translate and administer - we have to do the work with the board and members.»
This means that you may occasionally see news, updates or new subpages appear first in Norwegian. We'll follow up as quickly as we can, but we'll also be open to the fact that it sometimes takes some time before everything is in place in all languages.
When it comes to Sami, we use the expertise we have in and around the organisation. We know that there may be things that need to be adjusted, which is why we have chosen to get started and improve along the way.
«We hope people will let us know if they see something that could be improved. We believe it's better to have a translation that can be improved than not to have a translation at all.»
We invite you to contribute in big and small ways
This is a volunteer project, and we rely on the help of others to keep the language versions updated over time. If you see something that needs to be corrected, or if you have suggestions for better terms, place names or wording, we'd love to hear from you.
We also welcome text contributions and sources that can strengthen the communication - small and large contributions make a difference.
Send us an email at sprak@halde.no
How you can help
Proofreading and corrections
Do you see errors or unfortunate wording in Sami or English? Feel free to send us your input.
Terms and names
Do you have suggestions for better terminology or place names?
Text contributions
Would you like to write a short text or article, especially in Sami (and eventually also in Kven)?
Sources and documentation
Do you have photos, documents or stories that can strengthen the communication?