Who are the Sami and where do they live?
The total population of Sami in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia is estimated to approximately 80,000, and about half of them live in Norway. The vast majority of settlements are located in Northern Norway, primarily the county of Finnmark. There are, however, Sami communities as far south as Trøndelag as well.
Are the Sami people native?
The Sami are one of the world’s indigenous people and one of Sweden’s official national minorities. The minority status means – in short – that they have special rights and that their culture, traditions and languages are protected by law.
Do Sami still exist?
The Sami culture is the oldest culture in large areas of Northern Norway and is currently experiencing a strong renaissance. The Sami people live in four countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. The total population in these four countries is estimated at approx. 80,000, of whom around half live in Norway.
Which country has the most Sami people?
It is currently estimated that there are between 80,000 and 135,000 Sami people spread over four countries. More than half of the population are living in Norway, another big percentage in Sweden, and smaller groups can be found in northern Finland and Russia’s Kola Peninsula.
Where are the Sami people located in the world?
The Sámi people ( / ˈsɑːmi /; also spelled Sami or Saami) are an indigenous Finno-Ugric people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses large northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola Peninsula within the Murmansk Oblast of Russia.
What kind of language is the Sami language?
Sami, also spelled Saami, or Same, Sami Sabme, also called Lapp, any member of a people speaking the Sami language and inhabiting Lapland and adjacent areas of northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland, as well as the Kola Peninsula of Russia. The three Sami languages, which are mutually unintelligible, are sometimes considered dialects of one language.
What was the genetic background of the Sami?
The study of Y chromosomal polymorphisms also seems to support the theory of the Sámis’ long isolation; however, it seems that they were not always living completely alone. The study of these Y chromosomal polymorphisms shows “two major founding male lineages” in not only the Sámi, but the Finns as well. [6]
What kind of religion does the Sami have?
Traditional Sámi spiritual practices and beliefs are based on a type of animism, polytheism, and what anthropologists may consider shamanism. The religious traditions can vary considerably from region to region within Sápmi. Traditional Sámi religion is generally considered to be Animism.
