The Sámi people and their culture The Sámi or Saami were also called Lapps or Laplanders by the English. Sámi people consider the English terms derogatory. The Sámi are recognized as the only indigenous people of Europe. They have lived in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Their origins are Finno‐Ugric, a Hungarian and Yugra (Urals) past, inhabiting the Sápmi region. Today, the region encompasses large parts of Norway and Sweden, northern parts of Finland, and the Murmansk Oblast (Kola Peninsula) of Russia. The Sámi people have their own language, culture and customs that differ from others around them. This has caused the Sámi social problems and culture clashes. As we learned from our Sámi culture presentation and a quote from ‐religiousstudiesproject.com the following: “The history between the Sámi and the Norwegian government has left a stain on the Sámi for generations: The Norwegianization policy undertaken by the Norwegian government from the 1850s up until the Second World War resulted in the apparent loss of Sami language and assimilation of the coastal Sami as an ethnically‐distinct people into the northern Norwegian population. Together with the rise of an ethno‐political movement since the 1970s, however, Sami culture has seen a revitalization of language, cultural activities, and ethnic identity (Brattland 2010:31).” Note: Suggested readings, ‐laits.utexas.edu, a 19‐part series by the University of Texas entitled “Sámi Culture.” The other reading is‐ unsr.vtaulicorpuz.org. It is a report by the United Nations on the rights of indigenous people such as the Sámi. Reindeer are the Sámi key element to how they live. Their lives as hunters/gatherers and herding reindeer can be traced to ancient migration routes and seasonal foraging grounds. One thing we were told by our tour guide was to not ask the Sámi people how many reindeer they have in their herd. It is a very personal matter to the Sámi. Sámi beliefs center on the role of nature. These include several spirits and that natural objects such as animals, plants and rocks possess a soul from a polytheistic perspective. Their religion is referred to as Animism. The term is not Sámi but derived from an anthropologist named Sir Edward Tylor mentioned in his book “Primitive Culture” written in 1871. Shamans play an important role in Sámi life. A shaman is considered a communicator between the present and spiritual world. The use of a ceremonial drum and trance‐like state allows the communication to come forth. Shamans have many attributes that can communicate with the spirits of the dead, heal or deliver guidance on unsettled matters in both a trance state or not.‐grandma‐in‐lapland.com Several Sámi proverbs from the book that we appreciate: “Old dogs don’t bark unless there is reason.” “Regretting helps very little.” “Pouring water in a leaky tub is pointless.” “The person who hasn’t experienced need doesn’t understand what need means.” “If everyone wants to be the leader, there’s no one left to row the boat.” Population figures vary by country and are usually found in a range of numbers. The largest numbers range up to 60,000 in Norway. In Sweden the numbers range up to 36,000. In Finland nearly 10,000 and in Russia, less than 2,000. This photo program is about a tour from Honningsvåg, Norway to a Sámi area. We met a Sámi couple named Ello and Eleanor and their dog Shambo. They have developed an educational program to share with others. This very informative program included two Sámi tent‐like structures (lavvu/Goahti), cultural artifacts, clothing, tools, provided reindeer broth, a lassoing reindeer demonstration and two live reindeer to view and talk to the couple about. Their large lavvu held nearly 35 people comfortably. Sámi who herd as a commercial business live in traditional homes part of the year and in tents (lavvu) when herding their reindeer. Kjøllefjord has a diverse scenery. Both plateaus and valleys. It has the world’s northernmost broadleaf forest and rich vegetation.

The lavvu structure serves the Sámi well as they move to the coast with their semi‐domesticated reindeer herds to forage. Made with a system of polls and covered with reindeer pelts sewed together with a bone needle and guy thread. It must be strong to withstand the winds.

Ello is showing off his whittling skills with his Sámi “big knife” (stuorraniibi).

Ello is showing off his winter coat made from reindeer. If it rains, he reverses it. Weight 2 kilos, little over 4.6 pounds. Eleanor is showing off Ello’s pants made also from reindeer. Eleanor explains that the Sámi respect for nature is even found in the leather cleaning method. Finally, Eleanor shows off a family baby carrier that is 60 years old.

Eleanor showing off a Sami whisk broom, a Sámi wooden cup, shares a cup of reindeer broth while Ello drums and chants a Sámi song.

Facts about reindeer according to livescience.com. Reindeer are also called caribou depending on where they are. Some scientists believe they were the first domesticated animals, circa 2,000 years ago. Males can weight up to 529 lbs. Females up to 308 lbs. Both male and female grow antlers. That red nose comes from the fact they have 25 percent more capillaries in their nasal area than humans. They are social animals and travel and rest in groups called herds. They have been known to travel up to 5,000 miles to find food in the winter. Their diet consists of herbs, ferns, mosses, grasses, shoots, fungi and leaves. In the winter they use their antlers to dig for lichens AKA reindeer moss. The gestation period is 7.5 months and only one calf per reindeer that can weigh up to 20 pounds. The life span is 15 to 18 years. They can run up to 50 mph. From a conservation point, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) consider them a threatened species. The population worldwide has decreased by 40 percent over the past 30 years. As Eleanor noted in her presentation, many Sámi people are using their talents and skills, such as craft making, to improve their family income.

It also presents their Sámi culture in other ways.

This bracelet is an example. How do you catch a reindeer? Answer like a cowboy with rope! Ello gives a tourist a chance with a stationery antler but remember reindeer do NOT always stand still! He missed!

Sources: Sámi Proverbs, “Time Is a Ship That Never Casts Anchor,” 2017 Editor and Authors’ Publisher, Oslo, Tour guide, https://www.iwgia.org/en/sapm, https://evolutionistx.wordpress.com/2015/10/30/genetic‐history‐of‐the‐finno‐ugrics/, https://visitsweden.com/sapmi‐and‐sami/, https://prezi.com/2so3fuywgou3/animism, https://www.religiousstudiesproject.com/2014/11/26/sami‐shamanism‐up‐close‐and‐personal‐by‐marianne‐vigdis‐ henriksen/, http://grandma‐in‐lapland.com/tag/shaman/, https://www.laits.utexas.edu/sami/dieda/hist/genetic.htm, https://nordnorge.com/en/sapmi/?News=57, https://www.unric.org/en/indigenous‐people/27307‐the‐sami‐of‐northern‐europe‐‐one‐people‐four‐countries, http://www.tageo.com/index‐e‐no‐v‐05‐d‐ m407092.htm, https://www.laits.utexas.edu/sami/dieda/anthro/architecture.htm, http://unsr.vtaulicorpuz.org/site/index.php/documents/country‐reports/155‐ report‐sapmi‐2016 https://www.livescience.com/56310‐reindeer‐facts.html and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3195409/. acuri.net John R. Vincenti The Sámi People and Their Culture