The Sami people (also known as Lapps, a derogatory term) are one of the original aboriginal people of northern Europe. They are today found spread through the areas of northern Finland, Norway and throughout the Kola Peninsula within Russia. They often seem to have separated themselves from the other peoples of Europe, and refer to themselves and their country as the Sapmi. This name is very old and present throughout their history as a people. The original source of these people is still debated today. A concrete answer still has not been found and is continued to be researched. It is commonly believed that they came from Finland and areas in Karelia during the end of the ice age. Their name, Sami, has some origin in the Finnish name for Finland, Suom and the Baltic word Sama. It also draws from the word, Hame which refers to Tavastia, a part of south Finland. There is some diversity among the Sami, including an eastern people that resemble north Asian peoples and a more western people which more closely resemble European peoples. There are many Sami cultures which also have their own from of dialect and language. It is not clear what language their ancestors spoke but it is believed to be an early from of the Uralic language. One of the closest ties to the their language seems to be the Baltic and Finnic languages.
The Sami are a unique nomadic people who have made a living by hunting and gathering. Genghis Khan wote that the Sami were a people he would never try to fight again. This was due to the Sami’s tendency to disappear in times of conflict for protection. Their culture today remains one that has managed to avoid war by adapting to various changes in living conditions within their environment.
The Sami people were found to have moved to their present area following the reindeer herds. They were proficient hunters of the northern reindeer populations. As more people moved into the area the reindeer populations dropped. At this obstacle, the Sami people again adapted and became herders of the deer as well as fisherman. Since then, they have developed an almost symbolic life with the reindeer. They have always made use of the reindeer during the cold and harsh winter as food and clothing. They can also be used as an animal to transport or even be milked. Efficiency with the reindeer was always a goal for the Sami as they used every part of the reindeer for food, sewing and even tents. Even today the reindeer herds are present and are still marked the traditional Sami way. This consists of a pattern of cuts and notches made on the ear to distinguish one family's herd from another's. The Sami people take great pride in their people, traditions, and way of life. They continue to herd reindeer as their ancestors did as both a way of life and a window to their people’s history.
Though this page has been carefully researched, the author does not claim expertise on Sami culture.
Please send questions, comments, and corrections to emuseum@mnsu.edu and include the URL of this page.
If you are Sami, your feedback is much appreciated.
Irwin, John L. The Finns and the Lapps. New York: Praeger, 1973.
Manker, Ernst. PEOPLE OF EIGHT SEASONS The Story of the Lapps. New York: The Viking Press, 1963.
An introduction to the Sami people (03/22/96) http://www.itv.se/boreale/samieng.htm 04/23/33
Written by: Matt VanderSluis