Quiwe Baarsen (died 1627), was a North Sami shaman. He was one of only 26 Sami people executed for witch craft in Norway in the 17th century.

Baarsen was a Noaidi and a resident at Årøya, Finnmark.

Quiwe Baarsen

In May 1627, he was put on trial in Hasvåg accused of having procured wind by use of magic for the sailor Niels Jonsen in 1625.

Quiwe Baarsen

Baarsen claimed to have acted on commission of Jonsen, who needed wind to sail to Hasvåg, and described that he had wet his feet in water to create wind. Afterward, he was asked to repeat it by the wife of one of Jonsen's fishermen, which he did by throwing a pig into the sea. That time, however, the wind grew into a storm which caused the boat to sink. Baarsen explained that he was often hired to create wind. He denied having performed magic by the use of a Sami drum, but admitted that he had the knowledge to do so.

Quiwe Baarsen

On 11 May 1627, Quiwe Baarsen was judged guilty of having caused five people to drown by the wind he had created by use of magic, and sentenced to be executed by burning.

See also

Lars Nilsson (shaman) Erik Eskilsson Christianization of the Sámi people

References

Rune Blix Hagen: THE SHAMAN OF ALTA. THE 1627 WITCH TRIAL OF QUIWE BAARSEN

Executed Norwegian people

Norwegian Sámi people

People executed for heresy

16th-century births

1627 deaths

Persecution of Sámi people

Norwegian Sámi shamans

People executed by Norway by burning

People in Sámi history

17th-century executions by Norway

Witch trials in Norway

Pagan martyrs