The Sámi People: A Complete Guide to Nordic Indigenous Culture

The Sámi are an indigenous people who have traditionally lived across Sápmi, a region spanning Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. Here are the basics of their distinctive songs, dress, and history.

Who Are the Sámi?

The Sámi are an indigenous people who have traditionally lived across Sápmi, a region spanning northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia's Kola Peninsula. Older outside labels like "Lapp" are now generally avoided because they can carry discriminatory connotations, and "Sámi" — the community's own name for itself — is the standard term today.

Sápmi Crosses Four National Borders

Sápmi, the traditional Sámi homeland, isn't the territory of a single country — it spans Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. As a result, the Sámi have a long history of being shaped by different countries' border and assimilation policies.

Reindeer Herding: A Tradition, Not the Whole Story

Seasonal reindeer herding is the tradition most associated with Sámi culture, but only a small share of Sámi people actually herd reindeer today. Far more work in fishing, crafts, or contemporary professions, and it's worth keeping that broader picture in mind.

Joik, a Traditional Song Form

Joik is a distinctive Sámi vocal tradition, understood not as describing a person, animal, or place in song, but as sonically embodying that subject itself. Many joiks have little or no fixed lyrics, built instead from repeated syllables.

The Traditional Gákti Costume

The Sámi gákti varies distinctly in color, pattern, and ornamentation by region and family. It's said that a person's gákti could once reveal which part of Sápmi they were from, and even whether they were married.

Sámi Parliaments and Self-Governance

Norway, Sweden, and Finland each have their own Sámi Parliament representing Sámi cultural and political interests — institutions that let the Sámi voice their concerns through indigenous self-governing bodies within each state.

A History of Forced Assimilation, Now Being Reexamined

Until the mid-20th century, several countries sent Sámi children to boarding schools that banned the use of the Sámi language, part of broader forced-assimilation policies. In recent years, countries have increasingly reexamined this history and supported efforts to revive the Sámi language and traditions.

The Sámi Flag and Sámi National Day

The Sámi have their own flag representing the community, and February 6 is celebrated each year as Sámi National Day, marking the first cross-border Sámi congress held in 1917.

An Identity That Crosses Borders

Because Sápmi spans four countries rather than belonging to any one of them, it's more accurate to think of the Sámi as a single indigenous community that crosses national borders than as a minority within any particular country. Each country's Sámi Parliament exists precisely to reflect that reality.

More Diverse Than the Stereotype

Reindeer herding is the image most associated with Sámi culture, but far more Sámi people work in fishing, craft trades, or contemporary careers. Understanding Sámi culture means holding a broader, more balanced view of these varied ways of life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to use the word "Lapp"?

"Lapp" was once a common outside label in Europe, but it can carry discriminatory connotations, so it's now generally avoided. "Sámi" — the name the community uses for itself — is the appropriate term to use.

Do all Sámi people herd reindeer?

No. Reindeer herding is the tradition most associated with Sámi culture, but only a small share of Sámi people actually work in it today; most live and work in a wide range of other occupations.