Early in his career Nils-Aslak Valkeapää was concerned with the idea that Sámi artists should organize. He was central in the establishment of Sámi authors’ society and too that practicing artists get their own alliance. For a time he was also the culture-coordinator for the World Conference for Indigenous People (WCIP) and the main person behind what was characterized as the world’s first cultural festival for indigenous people, Davvi Šuvva in 1979. Nils-Aslak Valkeapää was always on the lookout for new Sámi talent, and helped many yoikers and writers get ahead both as a mentor, publisher and inspiration.

(Harald Gaski 2014)