shishitsunariHistory of the Sami people
Although the history of the Sami people as inhabitants of Fennoskandia and Kola has been belittled, there is archaeological, biological, and linguistic evidence that the Sami people have been living on the area for thousands of years. For example, some of the rock carvings found on the area are over 4000 years old. Traditional livelihood included fishing, hunting, and reindeer herding that is still practiced today.
Many rock carvings portray everyday life. These carvings are located in Alta, Norway. (Commons)
Shamanism and handicrafts have been important in the Sami culture. The traditional Sami religion includes a belief that everything has a soul. Witch drums were used as a part of a practice, where a shaman falls into a trance to communicate with the spirits and deities similarly to the shamans of the Samoyeds. A Sami shaman worked as an interpreter between the regular people and the gods. Each village had a seita, a sacred place that was believed to protect the village, which is why women and “impure creatures,” such as dogs, were not allowed to approach it. Bears were also worshiped at some point, similarly to traditional Finnish practices. Because of the religious converting that started in the 17th century most the Sami people are today Christian.
The patterns and designs of Sami handicrafts vary by place. Knives from Rovaniemi Arctic Museum. (Commons)
Historically the living area of the Sami people included the whole area of Finland in addition to other parts of Fennoskandia, but increasing taxation and the power of the church and the state started driving the people towards North in the 11th century, although new archaeological studies have shown that instead of moving to North, most of the people assimilated into the new population of the area and started practicing their livelihood. The areas of the Sami people continued to shrink along with increasing of missionary work, settlement, and denying of land rights, until contracts between states in the 13th and 16th century divided the people into groups. By 18th century many had changed their livelihood into farming and converted into Christianity.
Patterns of the traditional clothing vary place by place as well. A Sami family with their dog in Finland, 1930′s. (Commons)
Well into the 20th century speaking Sami languages was forbidden in schools, and one could rightfully call it an attempt to destroy the languages and the culture of the Sami people. The World Wars were difficult time for the people especially for the ones living in Finland, as Sami men were sent to battle side by side with Finnish men. Nowadays the Sami languages are appreciated and preserved, although there is still a lot of work to be done.
Sources:
-http://norssi.oulu.fi/projektit/6awww/jukkayl/hissa.htm (in Finnish)
-Sukukansojen ystävät ry. (in Finnish)
More in English:
-Finnication of the Samic people
-A brief Sami history
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