Mattis Hætta became a national celebrity when he won the final of the Norwegian Grand Prix in 1980 with joik “Samiid Ædnan” alongside Sverre Kjelsberg.
NRK he mentioned death first, and it was Hætta’s family who informed the state channel of the death. Mattis Haetta was 63 years old.
Hetta was a Sami actor and joker. Born in Masi in 1959, he is best remembered for “Sámiid Ædnan”, who fell like a bomb in the 1980 Grand Prix.
The song was about the rights of the Norse natives and the protests against the development of Altavassdraget. Hætta himself had taken part in the protests in front of the Storting in the summer of 1979.
Joiken has caused a stir both at home and abroad. The song came 16th out of 19 songs in that year’s international final.
According to Great Norwegian lexicon Haetta subsequently worked, among other things Beaivváš Sámi Našunálateáhter which can be best translated with the Sami National Theater and in television series Broken heart (2013).
Mattis Hætta was also one of the artists who took part in the “Golden times” concert show in 2007 – and he proved that he has not forgotten the old artists.
Sverre Kjelsberg wrote “Samiid Ædnan” with Ragnar Olsen for the comedy The zero point. Sverre Kjelsberg passed away in 2016. The former Pussycat star was 69 years old.
Even many years after the Hague International Final in 1980, both Hætta and Sverre Kjelsberg experimented with the use of the song in new contexts. Like when it was used in 2011 Hollywood horror “The Thing” – without either of them being informed.
– I think it’s weird that people don’t ask for permission before using my voice and something I helped create, Mattis Hætta told VG at the time.
