About Niko Valkeapää

Niko Valkeapää (raised in Enontekiö, Finland) is a Finnish-Norwegian and Sámi singer-songwriter. Since 1990 he's been living in Kautokeino where he started out as a teacher. He is the godson of artist Nils-Aslak Valkeapää, and quoted some of Nils-Aslak's texts on his two albums, which have become a part of the "thrid wave" in the modern Sámi culture, on which he has worked with Georg Buljo, and several other artists. He won the Sámi Grand Prix (1994, 95), received in the open category the Spellemannpris 2003 for his debut album, and the international music price for minority music at the Dutch world folk music fesitval Liet Ynternasjonaal. He toured in the north, and performed on various festivals, such as: Nattjazz, Festspillene, Riddu Riđđu Festival, and Nordland Musikkfestuke.