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The Norwegian state was founded on the territory of two people - Norwegians and Sami. The name Sami stems from sapmi, which denotes both the geographical territory for the traditional Sami settlement areas and the people themselves. The Sami live in the polar region in what today comprises the northern area of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia's Kola Peninsula – whereas Norway has the biggest Sami population.
The size of the Sami population has been reckoned at 75,000,
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but estimates vary in accordance with criteria used (genetic heritage, mother tongue, personal wishes, etc.). Official censuses have not given reliable counts. Because of the assimilation process, not all Sami have wished to acknowledge or declare their ethnic identity
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Sami background -
social life and economics |
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The Sami region stretches across a large geographical area with cultural and economic variations and a corresponding diversity in Sami society. The Sami societies were formerly organized in siidas, which were a form of practical cooperation between several family groups, primarily regarding management and sharing of natural resources and game. The Sami have developed an economy based on |
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a direct relationship to nature and natural resources. Adaptations can be seen as functions of the local resources and natural conditions in the arctic and sub arctic areas.
The Sami noaide was a person with strong mental and spiritual power. The noaide functioned as the siida-isit. He was a strong spiritual leader for his society in moral matters and could resolve disputes. He was also a healer, social worker and storyteller. The Samis used both animal and vegetable products in their folk medicine. In cases of where a diagnosis was uncertain, the noiade sought advice by means of his shamanic drum. He was capable of transcending states of consciousness and could travel to other spiritual realms to cure sickness or prevent death.
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The Samis' situation is strongly dependent on the politics of the national states as well as more general social conditions. The first contact the Samis had with other peoples was meetings with explorers, adventurers and missionaries. Trade and state taxation soon followed. From the Middle Ages and onwards, settlements of Norwegians arose along the coast and the outer fjord areas. As they stabilized, the new settlement areas in the north came under the control of state authorities. In time, the Norwegian authorities stressed rational agriculture and private ownership of property. This did not harmonize with the traditional Sami way of life.
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No clearly defined national boundaries within the Sami areas of the polar cap were found until the peace treaty of 1751. The areas grew to be perceived as strategic, cradling a considerable economic potential. From time to time, the Sami were taxed by several nations simultaneously. From around 1850 a number of regulations were made to bolster the teaching of Norwegian to Sami. The goal was to establish Norwegian as their school language. It was not until the 1930s that Sami was again allowed as a secondary language in some school districts to augment teaching. In practice, the Sami language was banned in many Norwegian schools until well into the 1950s. The "Norwegianization" policy eventually moved into other social spheres. Following language, it became dominant in agricultural policies, defense, education, communications and media. Time has left its indelible traces on the Samis through a loss of language, traditions and a fading perception of their history and background - and these values are difficult to regain. In the last decades, Sami policies have been particularly oriented toward the social sphere and regional development.
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Sami Language
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The Sami language belongs to the Finno-Ugric branch of the Uralic family, and is closely related to the Baltic Sea-Finnish languages, such as Finnish and Estonian and Hungarian.
Sami is a so-called "synthetic" language with numerous derivations and inflected forms as well as multiple cases. The system of derivatives provides a wealth of opportunities to create new words out of a single word
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root. There are several Sami languages: East Sami, Central Sami and South Sami.
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Sami cultural efforts
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By means of special support measures, the Norwegian Council for Cultural Affairs has helped establish a number of Sami cultural institutions and cultural initiatives. Sami cultural heritage is expressed by means of culture days, poetry readings and concerts, the spread and development of handicrafts, literature and graphic arts, as well as through the development of theater and modern Sami art.
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Education and Research
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Sami as a beginning language in certain elementary schools was initiated in 1967. Later legislation extended the use of the Sami language in schools. Adult courses in Sami are held and paid leaves of absence are granted to teachers who take university courses in Sami. The Nordic Sami Institute at Kautokeino, established in 1974, is a Sami research institute funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. Several of these institutions are now joining forces to build up a Sami research network.
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Reindeer industry
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About 40 per cent of Norway's land mass is used for reindeer grazing. Most of this is in Finnmark County. The economic value of this industry is minor on a national scale, but it is important financially and culturally on the local level. The Reindeer Herding Act of 1978, which replaced an older law from 1933, emphasizes both the business and cultural aspects of the reindeer trade. Norway is divided into reindeer
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grazing areas, and Sami have an exclusive right to the trade. The right to maintain reindeer herds is based on traditional use. It is a right of usage, independent of who owns the land.
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The Sami and fisheries policies
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The population's means of making a living along the coastal and fjord areas from mid-Norway up to Russia is generally based on fisheries in combination with other trades. Most fishing is carried out with small boats in the fjords.
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The Sami Act and Sami Parliament
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In 1980 a committee was formed to discuss and report on Sami cultural matters and look into Sami rights issues. The Sami Culture Committee published reports in 1985 and 1987, providing a comprehensive study of Sami school and cultural issues, including a proposal for a Sami Language Act. King Olav V opened the Sami Parliament in 1989.
Norway has ratified several international conventions, declarations and agreements, which apply to the Samis. The Sami Rights Committee has issued several sub-reports. These provide further details on current law, for the historical perspective connected with the management of land and waters in Finnmark, and the land rights of Norway's indigenous people.
The Sami Parliament's plenary body consists of 39 elected representatives from 13 electoral districts. The parliament convenes four times a year for week long plenary sessions. The Sami Parliament's duties are manifold. It has carried out comprehensive administrative work and planning. The parliament has made a special impact through its efforts on the behalf of the agrarian rural population's economic rights and fjord fishermen's situation in the northern areas. It has developed a plan of action for Sami coastal and fjord areas, its own Sami agricultural plan, and it has participated in a special Sami fisheries committee.
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The Sami in a multicultural Norway
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The Sami are now in the process of establishing a natural position as an indigenous population in a multicultural Norway. However, a number of tasks remain in connection with the enactment of the provisions of the Sami Act. An integration of Sami policies, where necessary, will be important for a long time to come. The Sami Parliament must achieve a position in the
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Norwegian social system, which will make it a key player, issuing the premises for Sami social developments.
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