Ann-Mari Thomassen

Ann-Mari Thomassen
Ann-Mari Thomassen
Member of the Sámi Parliament of Norway
	In office; 2001–2017
Constituency	Lulli Romsa (2001–2009); Vesthavet (2009–2017);
Personal details
Born	Ann-Mari Katharine Thomassen; 18 April 1964 (age 60); Hamarøy, Norway
Alma mater	University of Tromsø
Occupation	Schoolteacher

Ann-Mari Katharine Thomassen (born 1964) is a Sámi politician and a schoolteacher. A member of the Norwegian Sámi Association and the Sámi Parliamentary Council, she has served as a member of the Sámi Parliament of Norway from 2001 to 2017.^[1]^[2] Thomassen has been a strong supporter of the requirement for Sámi educators to be employed in Oslo's Sámi kindergarten.^[3]

Biography

Born on 18 April 1964 in Hamarøy Municipality, Ann-Mari Katharine Thomassen was brought up in various places in Skånland Municipality. As of 2009^[update], she lived in Sandmark and Renså.^[4]

After primary school in Trondenes, she attended high school in Harstad and Narvik (1980–1985). She completed her education as a teacher at the University of Tromsø (1995), specializing in Sámi (1996). Since 1995, Thomassen has taught in Skånland Municipality and in the neighboring Tjeldsund Municipality. In 1989, she became a committee member of the Sámi association Inna ja Biras, serving as its leader from 1992 to 1994.^[2] She also serves on a number of other boards and committees, including the Sandstrand School Choir, Stuornjárgga Sámiid Duodji, the Santor sports association and the Bygdeutviklingsselskap building development company.^[4]

Thomassen lives with her partner Sten Jakob Olsen. She has four children: Tom (1986), Henrik (1994), Maja (1998), and Sina (1999). She is fluent in Sámi and Norwegian.^[2]

References

^ "Ann-Mari Thomassen" (in Norwegian). Sametinget. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Ann-Mari Thomassen" (in Norwegian). NRK. 17 June 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
^ "Sametingsråd: Oslo kommune går med på samisk språkkrav i barnehage" (in Norwegian). NRK. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
^ ^a ^b "En fot i begge leire" (in Norwegian). Norske Samers Riksforbund. 26 August 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2019.