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The dictionary of the Ume Sami language (ubmejensámien giella), the second least spoken Sami language, will be available for purchase again, "tryckabok.se", the publisher of the dictionary, confirmed to me. This book can no longer be found on the internet. The book was written by Barruk Henrik, known for his work revitalizing the Ume Sami language.

Hi, I'm new to this community and I recently saw that there was a case in Sweden where a British mining company was allowed to drill on Sami territory, while there has been protests in order to stop this the government doesn't seem to care, I wanted to gain and insight into this situation by getting you guys opinion and maybe sharing your experience on this or a similar situation.

Ivnnit vuoinnadit visot ealla oaidnán mannanáiggi ja boahtteáiggi,

Mazatec noaidi gáide mu siellu,

Gásku jungelis oahpes álgoolbmuiguin smávvudeame boares hávit,

Just to give a little context, I was traveling in Mexico and I ended up in Oaxaca City where I was a bit lost and in a market I met a Mazatec farmer who invited me to his village. I lived there for a few days and the village healer offered a healing ceremony with some mushrooms and the haiku is from after the ceremony and I’m trying to process what I had been through

I saw in the news today that former minister of education Sandra Borch identifies as Sami and has been accepted to the voting lists for Sami parliament, but that apparently the public broadcaster NRK has investigated this and disagree with parliament.

I learned about this from Ságat, from a letter to the editor from the not entirely uncontroversial leader of Nordkalottfolket, Vibeke Larsen. She is mad at NRK, and points out that her own father didn't tell her that until he was 70 that he hadn't known a word of Norwegian when he started school.

I got to agree a bit with her here, and I'm frankly a bit surprised at the two genealogists NRK used to substantiate their claims. Do they really not know that lots of Sami people hid their language and heritage in the census? I could give lots and lots of examples of this, of people who were 100% Sami in one census and 100% Norwegian in the next. Often it wasn't even their own fault: some census takers, most notably in Alta, practiced a one-drop rule where anyone with any known Norwegian ancestors at all were classed as Norwegian. The absurdity of that was even called out by contemporaries.

Nordkalottfolket have been quite outspoken about inclusive definitions in the past, setting themselves up as self-styled champions for the Norwegianized Sami - but it seems to me their main opposition in Sami political matters have not wanted to fight them on that, instead asserting that they on no account want to create a hierarchy of Sami-ness. I kind of have a feeling that NRK are the proverbial fools who rush in here.

I'm not quite sure if this belongs here, but I needed a place where I could share my experience and maybe find some hope. Please let me know if there are anywhere else I rather could post, discuss or read about this subject.

TL;DR: I have Sami ancestry and feel a deep sadness about not growing up with Sami traditions and language. Some part of me feel the need to "take back" what once belonged in my family, but in which I do not have any right to when not being brought up with Sami culture myself.

I'm a Norwegian with Sami ancestry. Three of my great-grandparents were Sami. Sadly as history is, the language and culture didn't get passed down and both my grandparents and mother with her siblings didn't/don't really care for the subject of Sami culture and language. My grandfather understood the language but as far as I know never used it, and my grandmother tried learning but I think she were too shy about speaking another language. My aunt recently told me that they were told as children that they should not talk about being Sami with anyone in their town, because they will be looked down upon. And I think that is a common thing in the town I'm from, even the county is - from which I have read, in denial of the Sami history belonging to the area.

The thing is that I can't stop thinking about what could've been. If there weren't any shame and hate. What if my great-grandparents learned their children the language and culture, what if it was passed down to my mother and then to me and my sister. What would life be like?

In the last few years these thoughts have been increasingly difficult to deal with. I feel like I'm missing a part of myself, that our family is missing something. I'm jealous of the people growing up with Sami parents and getting traditions and language passed down. I think it is extra hard because I halfway grew up in Northern-Norway but were forced to move to Oslo to live with my father. I had to give up my dialect to fit in, to not get bullied. And now I can't take back something I didn't grow up with and which didn't get passed down to me. I'm learning Northern Sami, but other than that I can't really do much about this situation. I have family far out who are Sami, and I was asked years ago if I wanted a gakti, but I never followed up on the offer because I was scared. What would I answer people if they asked about it, wandering around to parties and on official holidays in a tradional costume that I didn't grew up with. I guess it is the same with the bunad, I never owned one because I didn't feel like I belonged enough to any region and it was too expensive. I've dreamed about that gakti for years, one day I said. I would tell my friends when I was younger that I'm half-Sami and my mother would always tell me that it is in our blood. But without traditions and language you do not actually belong.

I don't know how I should move on or deal with this. I feel ashamed of myself. I feel hurt. I long for something that doesn't exist. I want to be something that I'm not. I want to give my children something that I never had which is not even mine to pass down. I just wish history could've been different, that people didn't have all that hate and fright in their hearts.

I think what I wanted with this post is to connect with other Norwegians/Scandinavians that share similar stories. Just any advice or commentary would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, so I am not Sámi myself but my maternal family is Tornedalian/Lantalainen. My mom was born and raised in Kiruna (Sápmi, Northern Sweden) and so was her mom. We belong to an ethnic minority that has spoken/speaks Meänkieli, a language closely related to Finnish that also includes both Swedish and Sámi loanwords and regional variations.

Lately I was visiting my family's cabin in Northern Sweden where I found many family treasures that my uncle left there for us after my grandma's passing. Among her things was a small risku. The silver has been a little discoloured with time, so it is certainly old, and I assume it was my grandma's. I asked my mom about it but she said she had never seen it before and said my grandma tended to hide the pretty things (like fancy clothes) away in her closet/room and would never wear them out.

Is it alright for me to wear this risku that has been in our family as a person of Meänkieli-background? For me it is a way to honour my ancestors and our people's cultural exchanges with the Sámi.

Cultural context: Historically our Meänkieli-speaking people have lived close to Sámi communities and many have blended Sámi-Meänkieli ancestry and families. Sámi culture has also shaped our culture and our ethnicities have exchanged cultural practices on both sides (such as the Tornedalians adopting some reindeer herding from the Sámi and the Sámi adopting kaffeost and Lovikka mittens from our culture).

I have traced back my own family tree and I found a Sámi ancestor (born in a Sámi village) who married into a Tornedalian community 7-8 generations ago. One of my elders who is a Meänkieli speaker, married with a South Sámi man, said she also recognized a last name as Sámi from another ancestor in my family line when I showed her my family tree - but I could not find information of a Sámi village for that ancestor. I was honestly not expecting to find any Sámi ancestry.

I came up with a really cool D&D character idea and I named him after the Sami bear God want to know if that's OK

Today I read that Tromsø municipality is once again voting to join the administrative area for Sami languages (forvaltningsområdet for samiske språk), after they had already voted for it once, but it was aborted when the conservatives got power.

I think it's pretty great news. But there's an odd pattern I see: Many areas that I know from my genealogy research were dominantly Sami-speaking, have not joined the administrative area, but some areas where there were really not many Sami speakers, have joined. Tromsø, the city, used to be a bastion of Norwegian language in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its rural areas Tromsøysund, Balsfjord etc. were far more Sami, but the municipalities currently in those regions have not joined the administrative area. The historical area of Lyngen was majority Sami speaking (Kven/Finnish was even the second largest language), but of the municipalities that area is split between today, only one (Kåfjord) has joined the administrative area.

It seems many municipalities where few people have Sami ancestors are eager to join the area, but municipalities where there are more people with a Sami background don't want to join it.

Some of it may have to do with moving. There are probably a lot of Sami speakers who have moved to Tromsø as the largest city of the region. But Hammerfest and Alta also surely have a lot of youths moving in from the core Sami areas, and they have not joined the administrative area. Nor can it be all about urban people being more open to indigenous heritage, because there are also a lot of quite small municipalities which have joined the area (e.g. Tjeldsund).

I'd love to hear your thoughts about what makes municipalities decide to join the area or not, especially if you live in Troms or Finnmark, or one of the municipalities further south which have decided to join.

Hello!
Sorry for (yet another) curious outsider question, but I was wondering if any people here knew of any Sámi people or organisations willing to do sensitivity reading for a text in english? It's not a small book (123k) and the Sámi elements are not critical to the plot, but it's really important to me that this of all things gets checked. There would, of course, be payment- I'd never ask anyone to do something like that for free
If anyone is interested or knows anyone who would be, please shoot me a DM! (and take this down if it's considered soliciting)

Edit: typo, *if

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The nameplace Lapland conjures up distant territories, bitter cold, and a sun that never sets. The Sami acknowledge the whole of their territory by the names of Sápmi, Sábme, Saepmie, Sábmie, Säämi, Sääʹmjânnam, or Saam' jiemm'n'e among others. Each of these endonyms corresponds to a Sami language. Depending on the state, each language has different demographic, geographical, and sociolinguistic factors. Unfortunately, they all share the same problem; the danger of extinction. Revitalization is the key to survival.

Sami languages belong to the Finno-Ugric linguistic family, such as Finnish, Estonian, Livonian, or Hungarian. The diversity of Sami languages, each with a different number of speakers, makes it impossible to simplify them in a single linguistic situation. In the past, Sami was made up of a group of at least 14 languages; 9 are still spoken today. Sami is a pluricentric language divided into two large blocks. The Western Sami languages are South Sami (500 speakers), Ume Sami (20 speakers), Pite Sami (20 speakers), Lule Sami (between 1,000 and 2,000 speakers), and Northern Sami (about 26,000 speakers). On the other hand, the Eastern Sami languages are Skolt Sami (320 speakers), Inari Sami (300 speakers), Kildin Sami (600 speakers), and Ter Sami (2 speakers). There are five official minority languages in Sweden, including North Sami, South Sami, and Lule Sami. In Finland, in the north of the region still known as Lapland, Inari, Skolt, and Northern Sami have official status. Meanwhile, in Russia, the situation is much more complicated. Languages are written in the Cyrillic alphabet. A few decades ago, the Akkala Sami language went extinct. Ter Sami is dying out. Kildin Sami is currently a critically endangered language.

Full article: https://www.nationalia.info/new/11527/sami-languages-revive-in-their-diversity

Bures! I'm a sami American so I don't have easy access to such a thing anyone know any places I could get something custom made not really a traditional item?

(Edit for clarification) Want a hat band made

During the opening day of Sami Language Week, Henrik Barruk talks about his pioneering work to save Ume Sámi (ubmejensámien giella), the least spoken second Sami language that was close to extinction. He also translated parts of the play “When We Were Sami” into Ume Sami – the first time a play has been performed in the language. The event occurs on Friday, October 18, 2024.

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The Sami languages are intricately tied to the way of life of the Sami indigenous people in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The Sami have coped with the extreme Arctic environment for thousands of years and today number around 50,000 to 100,000. Their languages range from the relatively widely spoken North Sami, estimated to have more than 20,000 speakers, to the exceedingly rare Ume Sami, spoken by only 25 people, and the near-extinct Ter Sami in Russia. But those overall figures don't capture just how important these highly specialised languages are to traditional Sami activities such as fishing and reindeer herding, as well as observing and describing Arctic weather patterns. In the Sami languages, for example, there are more than 300 words for snow, eight words for different seasons, and six different words to describe reindeer wandering by themselves. There are also several words for "frightened reindeer", depending on their sex and age.

I have shared the link of the full BBC article. Also search for "How climate change is altering Sámi languages" on the web and you will find the complete article.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240228-climate-change-is-altering-this-arctic-language

Like is it okay and not cultural appropiation?

I have a bunch of Native American friends here in the U.S- I was discussing with them how I am also indigenous, but wasn't sure how that relates to the natives here or how to explain it as I haven't explored my indigenous roots other than knowing I'm SAAMI. My grandpa and all relation I knew on that side of the family are passed away.

Hello! I hope no one minds me popping in here to ask a small question.

To be brief, I am a writer working on a novel series. I recently learned about joiking and grew concerned about something in my book and wanted to ask Sámi people their opinion.

In my book, there is a culture/country that was founded centuries prior when slavery was abolished in a neighboring nation. All of the freed slaves were pushed north to make their own living. The slaves were of multiple different cultures and languages, and unless they spoke the language of their slavers, many could not communicate easily together. In time they ended up creating their own unique blended language, but I wrote that early on they developed traditions of singing and music that did not use words, so that they could connect with each other despite the language barrier. The songs were intended to convey emotions, foster relationships and a sense of community, as a way of apology or making peace between conflicting parties, to provide comfort during times of grief, etc. This tradition still persists in the modern day and is a valued pastime, form of entertainment, etc.

Now I'm worried that this is too close to joiking, and it's going to come across as appropriative. I'd rather be safe about it, so I would like to hear the opinions of anyone willing to weigh in on this.

Thank you in advance!

Dove posso trovare parole in lingua Sami di Ter? C'è qualche dizionario su internet?

Hi, I'm not really sure where to ask this but I wanted to get an opinion from someone with more knowledge/living in the culture. I'm a sámi american art history major and for one of my classes we went into our college museum's storage, where I found that way in the back they have a cabinet full of old duodji and other artefacts.

This includes things like a small driving sled (i think) and yokes (idk if this is the right word, its the thing that fastens a sled to a reindeer), cradleboard, child's čeahgahpir, as well as smaller items like knives, jewelry (such as rings and risku), shoes, bags, pipe, cup, sewing kit, and a slender carved antler item with reindeer figures etched on the handle part that im not able to identify. I know stuff like the knives, rings and cup would be able to be bought by those outside of the community, but things like the child's čeahgahpir especially make me uneasy considering how old it is and the history of oppression and cultural theft faced by the sámi.

From what the curator knows, these items were part of a private "ethnographic collection" before their donation and they have no information on what they are or their provence, so were mostly guessing or making things up when they were telling people what they are (the labels I saw were so wrong it was sort of funny in a bizarre way). I'm willing to fight my school for their repatriation if it's wrong for them to be there.

Also, the curator told me that she knows of other museums around my state with larger sámi collections deep in storage. I could potentially get into those collections and see what they have if that would be helpful? I know a lot of important or culturally significant items like drums are currently missing and I'm increasingly wondering if some of those items are hidden away in the US, especially when I notice things keep popping up like that american seller jonsbones listing stolen ancestoral remains for sale a few years ago.

Background on me for some context: I too am North American, hello! It was through brutal, grueling combing through family documents, birth certs, church records, and even needing to travel to a university library hours away to access records of my family's immigration, that I was able to uncover my Saami ancestry. This includes kidnapping from Inari and residential schooling in Sweden, and my family changing their names to abandon connection to Sapmi. I am in the process of learning North Saami and attempting to connect with these roots, but I do not consider myself fully Saami. I am a diaspora of Saami culture and an ally of arctic indigenous people, and with my family abandoning the culture entirely, I cannot in good faith call myself a true Saami having not been raised with the culture and traditions.

Why is this important? My story is not unlike many of you North Americans coming into this subreddit to ask about "becoming" Saami. While many of us in the diaspora are seeking to reconnect with our ancestral roots (because, let's face it, growing up in colonial nations in North America is a culturally isolating experience), it's important to remember that there are respectful ways to do so—ways that honor the culture without appropriating it and making claims to oppression and marginalization, that, let's all be clear here, we have no right to speak on.

I am lucky to live in an area with tons of Scandinavian immigration which has resulted in my proximity to the largest Saami cultural center in North America. From my experience with this cultural center, I have learned a lot about Saami culture and have been very grateful to have made many Saami friends who consider me their own. From this, here are the tips I have for fellow North Americans looking to reclaim their roots.

(Note: none of this applies to "I took a DNA test and it said 10% Finnish. Am I Saami?" posts. I think deep inside you, you know that post is a little silly, don't you?)

• Be Honest About Your Relationship to Saami Culture: Like many of us, you may feel an alienation and cultural isolation from growing up lacking ancestral heritage in North America, but it's important to acknowledge the complex history of assimilation and loss of culture. Being part of the diaspora means you have not been raised with Saami values, traditions, or worldview, and that's okay. Embrace where you're at without overstepping.
• Support Saami Voices and Causes: One of the most respectful things you can do is uplift the voices of people from Saami communities, especially those still living in Sápmi. Follow Saami organizations, donate to Saami causes, buy from Saami-owned businesses, and amplify their efforts in the fight for indigenous rights and environmental protection.
• Resist the Urge to Commodify Saami Culture: It can be tempting to wear gákti or buy Saami jewelry, but these items often carry deep cultural and spiritual significance. Avoid wearing or buying these things unless they've been gifted or you've been explicitly welcomed into a cultural space where this is appropriate (eg. Saami cultural center). If you're buying from a Saami artist, make sure to support them fairly by purchasing authentic, non-commercialized goods.
• Connect in Solidarity, Not in Search of Identity: Many of us from settler-colonial countries feel a yearning for the cultures our ancestors lost, but it’s essential to remember that this connection doesn't necessarily mean reclaiming an identity. You can be a supporter of Saami culture and indigenous rights without centering your journey on "becoming" Saami. Remember, indigenous rights are not about you. Your family’s story is part of a larger narrative, but the best way to engage with that is by standing in solidarity, respecting the boundaries set by Saami communities, and educating yourself with humility.
• Don’t Equate Saami Experience with Indigenous American Experience: It’s important to recognize that while both the Saami and Indigenous Americans have faced colonization, assimilation, and cultural erasure, their histories, spirituality, and cultures are distinct. In addition, don't attempt to "mystify" Saami culture in the same way your North American teachers have done to indigenous Americans throughout your childhood. While Saami spirituality and shamanism is a rich history, it is not the only history. Saami people you meet will not spend all their time talking about worshipping the Northern Lights and connection to nature.

Saami still living in Sápmi or who were born and raised there please feel free to chime in and correct me. I am still learning, and wanted to offer some ideas to diaspora folks from what I've learned from the Saami I know. Any other advice and context is greatly appreciated. And to North Americans, take a breath. As much as the search for identity amid cultural isolation can feel like a race against time, you are not alone.

That being said, if you're trying to claim to be Saami just because you want to be marginalized and speak over other marginalized people, you are not welcome here. Bye.

Hi, I'm visiting from Canada and staying in the Saariselkä area for the next little bit. Having done my research about Sápmi I would be remiss to take (this experience) from the land without giving back. Where in Saariselkä/Laanila can I find sellers/shops whose sales will directly support a Sámi individual/family/community?

Ideally but unrealistically it would be rad if any/all money I spend during my time here goes to supporting Sámi so anything from food to clothing to handcrafts, please suggest.

Even if it's you selling goods, if you are in the area, let me know what you have for sale and maybe we can meet up. If you have an online shop or something that's cool too but it would be nice to go in person while I can. I also could use a pair of gloves/mitts and woolen socks. Missed the mark on packing with that one.

Thank you in advance, I hope to be a pleasant guest to this area. It seems many tourists have the opposite effect.

[EDIT] also if anyone has alternative suggestions of how to support/give back in a way that is not financial, I would love to hear it.

From what I've read, Saami people don't appreciate others (especially those in the States) who ask if they could be Saami. From my research, the Sammi were treated horribly by the Norwegian government. Would it make sense that some Saami left Norway and went to the States for what they perceived as the possibility of a better life?

I know I've pissed people off in the past by asking if I could be Sammi. I'm not trying to appropriate the culture of the Sammi who remain in Norway and Sweden. I'm just trying to fill in some gaps in my genetics. I don't understand the aggression when someone inquires about a possible connection. Not all Sammi stayed in Norway. Some went to the States.

That said, IF,by some chance,I am part Sammi, I don't expect any special privileges or cultural acknowledgement. I'm simply just trying to find my roots.

I ask you in advance to be kind in your responses. I truly value and respect the culture and history of the Sammi. They ate genuinely a very special culture.

I don't know how exactly to ask this question but is there anything I can do to support or help y'all? Like, what would y'all like to see from non-Sámi people when it comes to allyship and things like that? I'm a 16 year old trans girl from Stockholm, so I don't know how much I'm capable of doing, but I'm willing to do whatever I can! I'm not well educated on Sámi topics in general yet, be it politics, history, culture, religion, etc., so I'm assuming that would be the best place for me to start?
I don't know if this matters, but I'll say it anyway, just in case. I'm not well-read, but my heart lies very far left. As far as I know, I have a lot of Sámi ancestors on my mother's side, although none in the last three generations, at least.

I am a guest on Tongva land in the U.S. My mother's family comes from Germany and Ireland, and my father's great grandparents lived in what is now called Oslo before emigrating to the U.S. Is there a people indigenous to the Oslo area?

I see a lot of information about Saami living in Northern Norge, but who is indigenous to the Oslo area?

I am planning a trip to Norge to solve some family mysteries, and I am trying to figure out where to start my search, and who's stewardship I will be a guest within. Here in America, a lot of the academic information (museums/research papers/articles) does not match with indigenous information.

I grately appreciate your time and knowledge.

Bures! I am fairly new to spinning. Ive done a little Russian so far, and have viking age Kievan Rus whorls that just need some sticks before I can start playing around with them. But, as my projects for what Im learning spinning for are gonna be lohtten/flatfletting/bandflätning/fingerweaving (and nålbinding), well, I am really interested in learning about Sámi methods of processing fibres, spinning, and dying, but havent much luck in finding resources. Id be greatly appreciative if anybody could send me in the right direction. I would also love to get some Sámi made tools to work with if anybody happens to know a dude. Giitu!

Hello SaamiPeople, I have been learning about Saami culture and I live in North America. I have a genuine interest and respect for Saami spirituality and way of life. I have Swedish and Finnish ancestry but I don’t know if any of them were Saami. Is it possible for me to become Saami? Would I have to move locations? Or is it not possible?

Hi!

I am a Sami/Kven/Norwegian author. I will write this post in English since the forum is in English and in case it interests non-Norwegian speakers.

I write fantasy, and in my latest book, I wanted to bring the action "home" and base the world on Northern Norway anno year 900. However, what I thought at first would be easy, turned into a tricky balance. On the one hand, I want to include elements of Sami culture in a fantasy setting (fantasy is always based on reality, merging fantastical elements with things we know from our world). On the other hand, I keep asking myself if this is OK to do or not.

I have never read a fantasy book with Sami based characters or world. I would not dare call the people in the book Sami directly, as it is fantasy, but I'm world-building off of what we know about the way of life in the Arctic Fennoscandia around the year 900. Had it been Norse characters in a viking setting, I wouldn't have asked myself these questions and there are tons of books in many genres writing about vikings. But since the Sami have the history we have, I find myself unsure of how to proceed.

The question really is: how much of the Sami culture/language/people is it ok to bring into a fantasy book? I realize there are no guidelines for this, but when trying to remain respectful, where does the line go?

I've been looking for Sami sensitivity readers without any luck. The closest to sensitivity readers I know of, were the people who worked with Disney on Frozen 2. If I go by what Disney did in Frozen 2 (which is also the closest I have seen Sami culture used in fantasy), then it seems to be OK to: Use everyday clothing style (not gákti). Use the style of huts and tents (gamme, lavvo). Use way of life, food, and mythology.

I wonder if the line might go with the language, names of real life places, and names of gods? I noticed in Frozen 2 that the names of the people were very unlike the names Sami use, and also the gods in the movie were of course made up. But I don't know if this was to suit the Disney narrative, or because including old Sami gods would be crossing the line.

I would love a discussion on this, and if anyone has any resources or know sensitivity readers, that would be amazing. Thank you!