Saami

Saami, also spelled Sami, people living in the northernmost part of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and western Russia. Outside of their communities, Saami were formerly known as Lapps or Laplanders, terms they consider derogatory (see Saamiland). A majority of the Saami live in Norway. Some of the Saami people still speak the Finno-Ugric Saami language (see Finno-Ugric Languages) in addition to the national language dominant in the area where they live: Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, or Russian. The Saami language, which is related to Finnish and Hungarian, consists of many dialects.

Saami entered northern Europe from the east several thousand years ago, before the Scandinavians, Finns, and Russians. Originally nomadic hunters and fishers, Saami later developed a form of domestic reindeer breeding similar to that practiced by many peoples in Siberia. In time, some Saami became less nomadic, settling down as farmers and ocean fishers.

For centuries the Saami have undergone forced assimilation into the national populations. Government policies in the 18th and 19th centuries curtailed the Saami way of life and restricted the use of the Saami language. The situation began to improve slowly in the 20th century. As of 1966 the Saami, as an ethnic minority group and an indigenous people, came under the protection of the United Nations (UN) under Article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In the 1970s the Saami language was once again taught to children in Saami schools. By the late 20th century most Saami had adopted contemporary occupations, including careers in teaching, construction, business, and government administration. Only a relatively small percentage of the Saami population continues to herd reindeer. The reindeer-breeding Saami have often retained the daily use of the Saami language and the colorful traditional clothing.

Traditionally the Saami religion was shamanism, a belief in spirits that communicate with the shamans or priests, but today shamanistic practices are overshadowed by participation in the national churches of the various countries where Saami reside. Most contemporary Saami communities include non-Saami as well.

Saami cooperate with each other across national boundaries, and contact with Russian Saami is increasing. Since the 1970s organizations of Saami, such as the Saami Institute, promote reindeer breeding and other Saami interests across national borders. In Finland, Norway, and Sweden, Saami parliaments function as advisory committees to the national parliaments. A major issue is the Saami right to traditional livelihoods in the regions where they have always resided.