Who are the Sami people of Norway?

Around 2,600 Sami people in Norway make their living from herding reindeer, and much of the land in northern Norway is used for raising reindeer. Traditionally, most Sami people have also supported themselves through fishing, farming and hunting, on the coast and on the larger inland rivers.

What are the Sami communities like?

Given the traditional reliance on reindeer, Sami communities tend to be small and remote. The most notable today include: Kárášjohka ( Karasjok in Norwegian): As the home of the Sami Parliament, Karasjok can lay claim to being the Sami capital of Norway although the village itself has less than 2,000 residents.

What is the Sami Act and why was it created?

Despite the defeat, the Sami protests raised enough awareness among politicians and the general public that it was seen as the pivotal moment that led to the creation of the Sami Act in 1987. This in turn turn led to the creation of the Sami Parliament and the Finnmark Act that covers land use in much of northern Norway.

What is the Sami Parliament?

Since 1989, the Norwegian Sami have been able to elect representatives to a Parliament solely focused on Sami issues. An independent body elected by and representing the Sami people of Norway, the Sami Parliament works with a budget devolved from the national government.

Only Norway has ratified the International Labor Organization Convention No. 169 on the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples. Today somewhere between 70,000 to 100,000 ethnic Sami live in the Scandinavian countries and Russia’s Kola Peninsula.

What do Swedes think of Finns?

Swedes normally think better of Finns than Finns think of Swedes. Mostly if the Swede is from the south they are not wrong 😉 Finland is a very beautiful country, the Finnish side of Tornedalen is much more populated, rich and maintained, good service throughout the country.

What is the Sami’s relationship with nature?

At the same time, the Sami themselves are seeking to preserve their traditional livelihoods, reassert their culture and claim their right to self-determination. Because of the Sami’s relationship with the land, cultural survival and land rights are inextricably tied—and they depend on protecting nature.

Which countries allow the Sami to speak their language?

In the 1990s, Finland and Norway amended their laws to allow the Sami the right to use their own language when dealing with the government. In Norway and Sweden, reindeer husbandry and related occupations are the exclusive right of the Sami.