[1] In the winter of 1864, Maria Magdalena Mathsdotter traveled from her home in Åsele to Stockholm on skies and by foot to ask for an audience with the monarch.

Her initiative was approved and a society, the so-called Femöresföreningen ("five penny association"), was founded to finance a school in Vilhelmina in 1865, which was to be the first of many.

Her initiative was viewed upon as a virtuous wish for the Samis to be better educated within religion, and she was therefore officially celebrated as a role model.

Mathsdotter made contact with a pastor from the French Reformed Church in Stockholm, Henri Roehrich, who assisted her.

The Netherlands were particularly interested in contributing with funds, and Maria Mathsdotter was included in a contemporary dictionary of notable Swedish women.