Karin Stenberg

Maria Katrina Stenberg (1 May 1884 - 23 March 1969), commonly known as Karin Stenberg, was a Swedish-Sami teacher and activist in the early Sami unification movement in Sweden.

Biography

Karin Stenberg was born in 1884 in Árraksuoloj, Arvidsjaur Municipality, Norrbotten County, to Maria Mattsdotter Stenberg (born 1851) and Jon Nilsson Stenberg (born 1845). Her parents were both Forest Sami from the siida (Sami community) of Västra Kikkejaur in Arvidsjaur.

Stenberg studied at the Sami school for primary school teachers in Mattisudden, Jokkmokk Municipality, graduating in 1904. She spent her entire professional career working as a teacher in Arvidsjaur. In addition to teaching, Stenberg was an active supporter of Sami issues, especially those relating to the Forest Sami. In 1905, she traveled to Stockholm to attend what has been called the "First folk education course for Samis" (Samernas första folkbildningskurs), which was financed in part by politicians Carl and Anna Lindhagen.