[1] Inspired by the preacher Lars Levi Laestadius who called for a pure lifestyle and abstinence from alcohol, she was a leading member of a group of Samis who killed the local merchant and the lensmann.
[3][4] Both Ellen Skum and her husband became members of a strict religious group under Lars Levi Læstadius but interpreted his approach even more severely.
[1][2][5] On 8 November 1852, she was one of the leading members of the uprising which led to the death of the merchant in Kautokeino and to the local lensmann.
They found the merchant guilty of selling alcohol which was not only forbidden in their religious group but had caused serious problems for the Samis.
[1] On 14 February 1854, Ellen Skum together with four other members of the uprising was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court, but her sentence was later reduced to life imprisonment in Trondheim.