Kids’ band booted from Finnish show over “racist” Indigenous costume
Producers at Finland’s public broadcasting company recently decided to remove inserts by the children’s music group “Herra Heinämäki’s Shed Orchestra” from its afternoon Pikku Kakkonen programme after the Native American costume worn by a band member sparked controversy on social media.
The removed inserts have been transferred to Yle’s archives, according to the national broadcaster.
The editor-in-chief of Yle’s creative content Ville Vilén said the cancellation of the segment was decided after several viewers sent feedback about one band member who was dressed in a Native American costume, saying they found it offensive.
Particularly the band member’s wearing a headdress became the focus of heated debate on social media.
No longer acceptable
Vilén said that blackface comedies and Sámi caricatures used to be acceptable forms of humour in Finland, but that is no longer the case.
“Now we understand that it is racist and insulting,” Vilén said, indicating that the children’s music group falls into this same category. He said Yle needs to take more care and be very sensitive in the way the network depicts minority cultures.
Yle’s Head of Audience Dialogue Sami Koivisto said the broadcaster’s personnel had a long conversation about the incident.
“We have to learn to wake up in Finland to think about these things with a more respectful attitude and be more considerate of others,” Koivisto said.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Final Truth & Reconciliation report released in Canada, Eye on the Arctic
Denmark: Nordics report high abuse levels against women, Radio Sweden
Finland: National Sámi Day celebrated across several nations, YLE News
Norway: Injustices against Sámi, Kven peoples to be examined by commission in Norway, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: More protected lands on Nenets tundra in Arctic Russia, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Report sheds light on Swedish minority’s historic mistreatment, Radio Sweden
United States: When US Senators listen to Arctic voices, only some resonate, Alaska Public Radio Network
