The Sámi People

indigenous people · arctic · languages · northern europe

Northern homeland. The Sámi live in Sápmi, a vast region across the northernmost parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. This area was once called Lapland, but the Sámi prefer to call it by their own name.

Their own languages. The Sámi speak Sámi languages, which are part of the Uralic language family. These languages are special to the Sámi people and connect them to their unique culture and history.

What they prefer to be called. The Sámi don't like being called Lapps or Laplanders, which are old English names for them. They prefer to use their own word, Sámi, which is what they call themselves in their own languages.

Arctic indigenous people. The Sámi are the indigenous people of the Arctic region, meaning they have lived there since ancient times. They have their own distinct way of life, traditions, and connection to the northern landscape.