The Sami are an indigenous people inhabiting the Sapmi region covering parts of northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The region was formerly known as Lapland. The population is between 70,000 and 100,000, most of whem live in Norway. Like many indigenous people, they have been badly treated and have been forced to give up their pagan beliefs for Christianity and endured attempts to “Norweiganise” them including at times banning the use of their own language.
Since the 1980s progress has been made to improve the position for the Sami and they now have their own elected President in Norway – although she does not have legislative powers, she and the Sami Parliament provide senior level representation for the Sami and they now have certain legal rights and protections. The Sami culture is dependent on fishing and reindeer herding. Tim discovered that it is considered very rude to ask a Sami “What is the size of your herd” (equivalent to asking how much you earn).
Shilli-Fully Travels 