Who are the Sámi?
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The Sámi are the indigenous people of northern Norway, Sweden and Finland and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. Their homeland is called Sápmi. Estimates of their number vary, commonly between 80,000 and 100,000, with the largest population in Norway. They are known for reindeer herding, though most Sámi do other work.
The Sámi lived in the far north of Europe long before the present countries drew their borders. They speak Sámi languages, which belong to the Uralic family along with Finnish. There are about nine living Sámi languages, and several are seriously endangered.
Traditional Sámi livelihoods are reindeer herding, fishing, hunting and small farming. Only a minority of Sámi herd reindeer today, but herding remains central to culture and to legal rights over land. Sámi handicraft, called duodji, and the joik, a traditional form of song, are also well known.
From the nineteenth century, governments tried to assimilate the Sámi. In Norway a policy known as Norwegianisation suppressed Sámi languages in schools for about a century. Governments have since changed course, and Norway's king made a formal apology in 1997.
Today Norway, Sweden and Finland each have an elected Sámi parliament. The Sámi have their own flag and a national day on 6 February. Current disputes concern mines, wind farms and forestry on herding lands. The older name 'Lapp' is offensive and should not be used.