Sámi, Sami or Saami is the last indigenous people living in Europe. They arrived to North Scandinavia 10 000 years ago, after the ice-age.

The Saami language belongs to the Fenno-Ugrian family and was diversified from Finnish. Today there are Saami people in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia. In Finland they are fewer than in Sweden and Norway, altogether there is from 50 000 to 100 000 Saamis.
Saami culture is strong in Kautokeino, Norway. In Kautokeino 95% of the population speaks Saami.

Traditionally the Saami people have had their livelihood from the nature. They have been hunters and fishers. Today some of the Saami are also reindeer herders. In Norway there has been also so called “Sea Samis” who fished and exchanged fish for products from the Southern part of Norway. The Sea-Saami have always been more numerous than the reindeer herding Saami.
Saami people have always been very independent and have found ways to survive in the harsh arctic conditions.

One visible part of the Saami culture today are the dresses and handicrafts, duodji. All the handicrafts have been made for use and to be functional, still they are very artistic.

Saami culture programs and activities