Elsa Laula Renberg

Alongside Torkel Tomasson and Johan Enok Nilsson she established and served as the leader of the first Sámi political organization "Lapparnas Centralförbund".

Her family were traditional reindeer herders up until 1898 when, due to financial hardship, they decided to transition to agriculture starting a small farm on their land they named "Kanaan".

[2] In February of the next year Elsa's mother Kristina was part of an envoy to the king opposing the policies that restricted their land use.

[4] Two days later Elsa Laula Renberg had an audience with King Oscar II representing Sámi from Åsele, Vilhelmina, and Lycksele.

[5] Around the same time in August 1904 the first Sámi political organization, "Lapparnas Centralförbund" (Central Association for the Lapps), was established and led by Elsa.

[1] Two other prominent young Sámi political activists, Torkel Tomasson and Johan Enok Nilsson were also involved in leading the association.

One of her most notable critics was Vilhälm Nordin who wrote multiple articles in the paper Umebladet attacking Elsa saying her "jeremiad is humbug" in reference to "Infor lif eller död?".

[5] In 1907 Elsa Laula Renberg began giving speeches and lectures in Norway focusing on the need for Sámi to collectively organize to establish a political presence.

[3] In 1908 she married her husband Tomas Pedersen Toven, adopted the last name Renberg, and moved to Brurskanken in Vefsn where they had six children of which four survived infancy.

[2] Elsa served as the chairwoman and gave the opening speech at the assembly followed other prominent Sámi voices such as Daniel Mortenson and Torkel Tomasson.