Ávvir launched in 2008 onSami National Day (6 February)[3][4][5] It was founded through the merger of rival Northern Sámi-language tabloidsÁššu andMin Áigi.Min Áigi chairman Magne Svineng stated that due to higher production costs, mergeringÁššu andMin Áigi was the only way to meet the need for a daily Sámi-language newspaper with wide distribution.[6]Ávvir maintained editorial bureaus inKárášjohka andGuovdageaidnu, the respective headquarters ofMin Áigi andÁššu, and its management is co-located withAltaposten inAlta. The paper is owned by Sami Aviisa AS, which is one-third owned by Nord Avis AS (the owner ofAltaposten), one-third byAmedia, and one-third by local owners.[7]
On 5 March 2017,Ávvir launched an online edition to better reach younger readers, as well as extend its readership across the Swedish, Finnish, and Russian portions of Sápmi.[8]
In 2016,Ávvir reported earning a profit ofNOK 526,475.[9] Funding for the paper comes from advertising, subscriptions, and a Sámi media subsidy provided by the Norwegian government.[10] In 2014, to help meet the need for Northern Sámi-language print media in Sweden, theSámi Parliament of Sweden made it easier forÁvvir to operate in Sweden.[11]
The name forÁvvir was proposed byLáilá Susanne Vars ofLáhpoluoppal in Guovdageaidnu. The wordávvir translates into English as "care" or "attention"[12] The paper is credited with helping to preserve and develop the Northern Sámi language.[13]
^Risan, Herdis Lydia (6 February 2008)."Samisk dagsavis ser dagens lys" [Sámi daily sees the light of day].Aftenbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved27 April 2020.
^"Samiske aviser slås sammen" [Sámi newspapers to merge] (in Norwegian). NRK Sámi Radio. 15 August 2007. Retrieved27 April 2020.
^Pettersen, Monica Falao (2 March 2015)."Ávvir lanserer ny nettavis" [Ávvir launches new online newspaper].NRK Sápmi (in Norwegian). Retrieved4 May 2020.
^Larsen, Dan Robert (5 April 2017)."Ávvir gikk med overskudd i 2016" [Ávvir earns a profit in 2016] (in Norwegian). NRK Sápmi. Retrieved4 May 2020.
^"Ávvir".Álgu database. Research Institute for the Languages of Finland. Retrieved7 March 2008.
^Lund, Rolf Edmund (24 August 2019)."Gratulerer med ti spennende år, Ávvir" [Congratulations on ten exciting years, Ávvir].Altaposten (in Norwegian). Alta, Norway. Retrieved4 May 2020.
