Lapps

The Lapps, or Sámi as they prefer to be called, reside in a vast area of land that is nearly 400,000 square kilometers and crosses the boundaries of four countries: Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Russia. They are the oldest known inhabitants of Finland. The Sámi are in the minority in each of these countries and are often faced with discrimination. Their territory once extended even farther to the south, but as the rest of the world's population grew and moved closer to the Sámi, they retreated farther north. To the Sámi, the name “Lapp” is derogatory.

It is difficult to determine the exact population size of the Sámi due to the differing methods of determining Sámi ethnicity. For instance, in Finland, language is the primary method used. Anyone who speaks Sámi, or whose parents or grandparents speak Sámi, is considered to be Sámi. However, in Norway and Sweden, reindeer herding is used to determine nationality because the Sámi are known for this mode of production.

Although the Sámi are generally known as reindeer herders, there is actually a great deal of variation within the Sámi population regarding their primary mode of production. The Sámi can be divided into five different groups based on their geographic locations as well as on their primary modes of subsistence. One group is the Coast Sámi, whose economy is based primarily on fishing and who reside in Norway. Another group is the Forest Sámi, whose economy is based on hunting and trapping, supplemented by fishing, and who live primarily in Sweden and Finland. Another group is the Mountain Sámi, whose economy is based on reindeer herding and who live in the central and northern areas of Norway and Sweden. Another group, the River or Fisher Sámi, are known for farming and cattle raising. They also fish and herd reindeer to supplement their incomes, and they live in Norway and northern Finland. The final group, the Skolt and Kola Sámi, live in the most eastern areas of Norway, Finland, and Russia that are inhabited by Sámi. Their economy is based on both forest and sea products. They have been the most influenced by missionaries, especially the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Sámi culture is believed by many to be in danger. The primary obstacle facing the Sámi with respect to maintaining their cultural identity is the fact that they live in four different countries, making it difficult for them to develop their own separate form of organization. Furthermore, they speak at least six different languages that are closely related to Finnish. In the past, the Sámi have had difficulty in maintaining their languages because they were not allowed to use their languages in formal schooling of their children or in official governing processes and procedures. Moreover, in some areas, the Sámi have been experiencing population decline.

However, as a result of organization by the Sámi, they are now able to use their languages in schooling under the Finnish Schools Act of 1985. Norway and Sweden also have laws to support the use of Sámi for education as well as for governance. Linguists have also been studying the languages of the Sámi, and books and movies have been produced in Sámi. This will likely help to preserve their culture. The Sámi Council now represents all Sámi and participates in the World Council of Indigenous Peoples.

Source: © Dave G. Houser/CORBIS.

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