Who Are the Sámi?
The Sámi are the indigenous people of Sápmi, a region spanning northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia's Kola Peninsula. Approximately 80,000-100,000 Sámi live across these four countries, with the majority in Norway. The Sámi are Europe's only recognized indigenous people under international law and the continent's last surviving nomadic reindeer herding culture. Nine distinct Sámi languages exist, though several are critically endangered. Despite centuries of assimilation pressure and cultural suppression, Sámi identity has experienced significant revival since the 1970s.
Reindeer Herding
Reindeer herding defines traditional Sámi culture, though historically only a minority were full-time herders—most combined herding with fishing, hunting, and farming. Today, approximately 10% of Sámi participate in reindeer husbandry. Herding involves seasonal migrations between coastal summer pastures and inland winter grounds, following routes used for thousands of years. Modern herders use snowmobiles and GPS but maintain traditional knowledge. Reindeer provide meat, hides, and horn for handicrafts. The right to herd reindeer is restricted to Sámi, acknowledging herding's cultural significance.
The Joik
The joik (yoik) is the traditional Sámi form of vocal expression—not quite song, not quite chant, but a distinctive musical tradition predating European musical concepts. Traditionally, one doesn't sing about something but joiks it directly, capturing the essence of a person, animal, or place. Christian missionaries considered joiking sinful, banning it for centuries. Modern joik has merged with contemporary music, with artists like Mari Boine achieving international recognition. The revival of joiking marks broader Sámi cultural renaissance and resistance to assimilation.
Colonial History
Scandinavian states colonized Sápmi through taxation, missionary activity, and eventually forced assimilation policies. From the late 19th century, governments pursued aggressive Norwegianization, Swedification, and Finnification—forbidding Sámi languages in schools, removing children to boarding schools, and encouraging abandonment of traditional practices. Scientific racism classified Sámi as inferior; skull measurements and forced sterilizations occurred into the 20th century. Recognition of these injustices came slowly; official apologies from Norway (2011) and Sweden (2022) acknowledged historical wrongs.
Land Rights and Development
Sámi land rights remain contested. The 1979 Alta controversy in Norway—protests against a hydroelectric dam in a Sámi area—catalyzed political mobilization, leading to establishment of the Norwegian Sámi Parliament in 1989. Sweden and Finland followed with their own parliaments, though these are advisory bodies with limited power. Conflicts continue over mining, wind farms, and infrastructure in Sápmi. The 2021 Swedish Supreme Court decision favoring Sámi rights over a mining company marked a significant legal victory, but development pressures on traditional lands persist.
References
- Kuokkanen, R. (2019). Restructuring Relations: Indigenous Self-Determination, Governance, and Gender
- Beach, H. (1981). Reindeer-Herd Management in Transition
- Minde, H. (2005). Assimilation of the Sami