facts about sweden | sami in sweden

Traditional tents beside the reindeer-branding enclosure in a Sami village.

Sami country – known as Sápmi – stretches across the northern part of the Arctic region of Scandinavia and Russia’s Kola Peninsula. The Sami have been recognized by the United Nations as an indigenous people, giving them the right to preserve and develop their crafts, language, education, reindeer keeping, traditions and identity. There is no census for the Sami, but the popu-lation is estimated at around 70,000 people, spread over four countries: ap-proximately 20,000 in Sweden, 40,000 in Norway, 6,000 in Finland and 2,000 in Russia (the Kola Peninsula).

a nomadic peopleThe Sami were originally nomads, living in tents during the summer and more sturdy peat huts during the colder sea-sons. Some Sami still live in tents, but most have modern housing. Many Sami

sami in sweden:

ancient people at home in the arcticarchaeological finds suggest that the sami people have lived in the arctic region for thousands of years. modern sami build on their rich culture and long-established traditions but are happy to use snow scooters rather than skis when caring for their reindeer.

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have migrated to the south of Sweden. Today, only ten per cent of Swedish Sami earn a living from the reindeer industry, and many combine their family business-es with tourism or fishing.

reindeer husbandryThe Sami are often referred to as ‘the people of eight seasons’ – their reindeer industry has specific seasons for calving, marking, counting, castrating and slaugh-tering. Changes in grazing rights and logging territories have led to new forms of in-dustry. In 2011, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Sami, giving them com-mon law rights to a specific area of land – possibly the most important modern verdict regarding Sami issues of law. Much of today’s reindeer industry is simple meat production. During the tradi-tional migration of entire reindeer herds,

the herders and their families would also move, by foot or on skis. Nowadays, many use snow scooters, trucks or heli-copters, but some still prefer horses.

business and politicsSome Sami live in the mountains, while others live in forest villages. A Sami vil-lage is an economical and administra-tive union, created with the intention of keeping reindeer and regulated by Swedish reindeer husbandry law. Each village hosts several reindeer business-es, and has a separate area fenced off for pasture. Many businesses also man-age reindeer belonging to people who work or live away from the village. Towards the end of the 19th century, many Sami settled permanently to both farm and keep reindeer (mixed hus-bandry). The previous nomadic lifestyles of some, however, led the authorities to

facts about sweden | sami in sweden

make some contentious decisions, the repercussions of which extended well into the 20th century. The reindeer pas-ture law of 1928 limited reindeer owner-ship and membership in any Sami village to herders and their families. The new restrictions meant that mixed husbandry farmers had to slaughter their reindeer or lose their right to brand them. Today, younger generations are finding other professions, and the Sami are try-ing to ease the regulations so people can belong to a Sami village without having to own reindeer.

the sami languageThe Sami have their own language, which stretches across Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia. The language is di-

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vided into three main dialects: Northern Sami in the northernmost area, Lule Sa-mi around Jokkmokk, Gällivare and parts of Tysfjord in Norway, and Southern Sami in the southern area around Väster-botten and Jämtland, as well as near the Sápmi geographical border in Härjedalen and Dalarna. The Swedish Government has given the Sami parliament (Sametinget) greater influence and financial resources to preserve the Sami language. Eighteen municipalities have been selected to protect, promote, retain and develop Sami culture, and to form consultative groups. Approximately 6,000 Sami speak their mother tongue, 90 per cent of them Northern Sami.

Reindeer husbandry is often a Sami family business.

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Sami is a rich language. There are, for instance, more than 100 different ways of saying snow. But despite its abundance of descriptive words, the language is genderless: for example, the personal pronoun son can mean him and her, as well as an animal or an object. Written Sami was not linked to the Swedish alphabet until 1950. It was then also given an additional seven letters, pronounced with lisping sounds not found in Swedish. Guidelines for the language’s orthography were printed in 1979. This is probably one reason many older Sami can neither read nor write their own language.

educationA high-school-level education centre was established in 1942, and today oper-ates in Jokkmokk in northern Sweden. It offers training in reindeer husbandry, traditional cooking, handicrafts and the Sami language. It operates as a founda-tion with board members from the SSR and RSÄ Sami associations, as well as Jokkmokk municipality. The students board during term time, and have access to modern study and work areas. There are six Sami schools in Sweden, in Karesuando, Lannavaara, Kiruna, Gälli-vare, Jokkmokk and Tärnaby in southern Sápmi. In Sweden, academic courses in the Sami language can be taken at Umeå and Uppsala universities. The centre for Sami research, CeSam, in Umeå coordi-

traditional sami dress worn by the young tooPride in Sami heritage can some-times be seen in traditional dress, particularly the Sami folk costume, the kolt, which has gone from being work clothing to a festive garment. The design of the kolt varies depending on its geographi-cal origin. The traditionally blue costumes have at least 12 differ-ent styles and differ for men and women. Some have been rede-signed and given characteristic family patterns. Contemporary fashion is also an influence.

Younger Sami tend to prefer a tra-ditional style of colourful silk cloth-ing. The kolt is always worn at spe-cial occasions such as baptisms,

funerals, weddings and confir-mations. The male version is shorter than the female one, but tends to be longer in south-ern Sápmi than in the north. A belt, lace-up shoes, a shawl or bib, storm collar and hat are worn with the kolt. Storm col-lars once gave protection from the wind, hence the name, but are today more like decorated capes. They are worn by men in the north and women in the south. Decorations vary but Lule Sami usually wear silver or pewter, South Sami beads and North Sami colourful fabrics with handmade edging.

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Younger Sami prefer colourful silk when dressing traditionally.

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facts about sweden | sami in sweden

did you Know?

• Reindeermilktastessweetand looks like melted ice cream.

• Reindeerseatmushrooms,li-chen, grass and herbs.

• Thereare51Samivillages,the largest one being Sirkas in Jokkmokk.

• Samishoesandglovesaremade from reindeer hide.

• TheSaminationalsongwaswritten by Isak Saba.

• TypicalSamifirstnamesare Ante, Risstin, Sunna and Aslak. Double names such as Per-Anders, Lars-Nila and Elle-Maret are also common.

nates research in Sami culture, language, history and communities, and initiates new research. Sami childcare also helps maintain the Sami language and pass it on to the younger generation, and is offered in some municipalities. Some parents have formed childcare cooperatives, such as Vaerien Maanah (the Children of the Mountains) founded in 2010 in southern Sápmi.

the sami parliamentThe Sami political struggle for increased influence and autonomy began in the 1950s with the establishment of Sami as-sociations. Today, the Sami are largely represented through four stakeholder organizations: a political party (LSS), two national federations (RSÄ and SSR) and a youth organization, Saminuorra. These focus on different areas of interest and might best be described as lobby organi-zations.

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As of 1993, the Sami have had their own parliamentary body elected by popular vote, Sametinget. Its task is to safeguard, develop and coordinate all matters concerning Sami areas of inter-est. Elections to the Sami parliament are held every four years. The parliament has 31 members who gather three times a year in different locations around Swe-den. Over the years, the political parties have changed, both in policy and number. Sametinget is financed by grants from the Swedish Government and has one full-time politician, the assembly chair. Those on the Sami electoral register – open to those who speak Sami at home and feel part of Sami society – are eligible to vote. The numbers registering to vote have increased in recent years, not least because of a growing interest in political issues among young Sami and a growing willingness among older Sami to accept their ethnicity. �

Sami traditions are passed on through public Sami childcare and childcare cooperatives.

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The singer Sofia Jannok at Stock-holm Jazz Festival.

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The Sami have 11 official flag days.

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music, theatre and danceYoik is traditional Sami singing, and was originally closely linked to Sami religion. Seen as a pagan and uncultured activity, it was long banned by the Government. Yoiks describe something or someone. A yoik is passed down through generations, its style determined by its origin. Southern Sami yoiks include animal sounds, while those from the north tend to be about places.

Sami music today is a blend of yoik, rock and contemporary music. Sofia Jannok, for example, performed the ABBA hit Wa-terloo in Sami at the Swedish Song for Eu-

rope contest in 2011. Other singers who mix traditional yoiks with pop music are Mari Boine and Wimme Saari. Nils-Aslak Valkeapää, better known as Áillohaš, saw the yoik as an art form early on and cre-ated many works of poetry.

Theatre is a newer art form, often based on old legends or stories. The Sami have a rich storytelling culture, which has gained new perspectives through the theatre. The Sami Theatre in Giron, the Sami name for Kiruna, puts on several productions each year.

• Achild’skoltwithaccessoriesis an exact copy of an adult one, only smaller.

• Suovas means smoked and can apply to meat, fish and cheese.

learn more

sami actiVities

Jokkmokk Market, February. www.jokkmokksmarknad.se

Sami Church Weekend in Lycksele, beginning of March. www.gammplatsen.com

International Festival of Native People, July. www.riddu.no

facts about sweden | sami in sweden

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useful linKswww.ajtte.com Sami Museum, Jokkmokk

www.ajtte.se Sami cuisine

www.oddasat.se Sami news

www.programkontoret.se The International Program Office for Education and Training

www.samiteahter.org Sami Theatre

www.samer.se About the Sami

www.sametinget.se The Sami Parliament

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� aims for greater autonomyThe parliament has expressed its wish to build a Sami-influenced parliament building in Kiruna. Among the various issues, one goal unites all the political parties: greater autonomy. At present, Sametinget is empowered only to deal with matters concerning hunting and fishing, rein-deer herding, compensation for damage caused by predators, and Sami language and culture. The Sami parliaments in Finland, Nor-way and Sweden have drawn up a joint Nordic convention to strengthen their position as a minority people and influ-ence decisions on Sami-related matters.

new ways and old traditions The Sametinget has created opportuni-ties for the Sami people to care for their culture, traditions and language by des-ignating certain municipalities as admin-istrative centres. This has meant new op-portunities to further Sami interests and include Sami-speaking staff at nursing homes, Sami history in primary schools and Sami information signs in schools and other municipality premises. Another focus area is traditional Sami food. Previous generations grew up us-ing everything from the reindeer, the meat being a permanent feature in Sami cooking. Many young Sami want to rediscover dishes that were disappear-

ing, and traditional, local recipes have found new followers among both Sami and non-Sami. Classic dishes are also be-ing given new twists, one example being reindeer carpaccio.

sami handicrafts – duodjiReindeer are a big part of Sami culture, providing food and raw materials for everyday use. Sami pass on knowledge about reindeer through formal education and from generation to generation. Tra-ditionally, every part of the reindeer was kept and used – skin and horns for mak-ing shoes and knives, meat to cook or for further processing. Sami handicrafts, doudji, use natural materials and often have soft rounded shapes, pleasing to the touch but func-tional. Elaborate ornamentation was, and is, important, for showing off the maker’s skills and to preserve family and cultural designs. Many Sami make handicrafts to boost their income, but few earn a living from it. A certificate of Sami handicraft quality guarantees authenticity for the buyer, and indicates that the maker is recognized within the industry. New styles and materials have made their way into Sami crafts, and today, a variety of techniques such as metal cast-ing, visual arts and photography are used. The more modern the art form, the more accessible it is for younger Sami. n

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Reindeer meat is rich in minerals and very lean.