Choices made around using language in
museums can either reinforce or challenge existing common sense language regimes
and cultural hegemonies. The issues around linguistic choices are particularly
pronounced for a museum of indigenous culture in a multilingual minority
language community. Using the case of the Siida, the National Museum of the
Finnish Sámi, located in Inari, in Finnish Sámiland, we explore some of the
issues involved in using language in the museum. Based on a linguistic
landscape analysis, we identify three main functions of language in the museum:
managing and controlling visitors; narrating and explaining content and being
displayed as content/exhibit. We discuss these functions in the context of the
Siida Museum and also explore the associated challenges and opportunities. Our
analysis shows how the language choices made by museums in relation to all three
functions can present an opportunity to challenge existing language hegemonies
and inequalities.