<\/p>\n In short, they are an indigenous people of Northern Europe, and they have inhabited the northern regions of Scandinavia and Russia for a couple thousand years at least. Nobody is really sure when exactly they arrived in the area and from exactly where. Their DNA has been studied extensively, but the results are confusing.<\/p>\n The language, or rather languages that the Sami people speak are equally confusing. Technically, the language is called Sami, but it has so many subdivisions that a group speaking one dialect may not understand another. Fortunately for the rest of us, these days the Sami people also speak Swedish, or Norwegian, or Finnish, or Russian. Or if you\u2019re really intent on mastering one of the Sami languages, then the university in Ume\u00e5<\/strong><\/a> has just the course for you.<\/p>\n In Swedish:<\/p>\n When living or traveling in northern Sweden, sooner or later you will encounter a Sami person. The further north you go, the easier it becomes. And when you get up to Kiruna<\/strong>, you will see Sami flags proudly displayed in many locations. It shouldn\u2019t be a surprise then that the Sami Parliament in Sweden is located in Kiruna<\/strong>.<\/p>\n You can read more about the Sami people here<\/a>. No worries, it\u2019s in English and much more eloquently written than anything I could have come up with.<\/p>\n I\u2019m guessing that most of your contact with the Sami will be either thanks to reindeer (herding reindeer is an ancient Sami occupation) or through music. And that\u2019s how we come to yoik.<\/p>\n In Swedish:<\/p>\n Why is it without words? Because a typical yoik is similar to \u201cthroat singing\u201d or chanting in certain cultures. It can be very personal and deeply spiritual in nature. Sounds boring? It\u2019s not. Check out the Transjoik link here<\/a>. This traditional form of singing lends itself very nicely to an ethno-folk-trans beat.<\/p>\n This is just a short introduction to the Sami culture on this blog, and as I come across interesting Sami subjects, I will feature them here along with other Swedish things. Like it or not, the Sami are an integral part of northern Sweden. You can\u2019t live in Norrland<\/strong> and not talk about the Sami. And trust me, there\u2019s a lot to talk about.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I said last time that I would tell you about the Sami. In fact, I\u2019ve been thinking about a Sami-themed post for quite a while now, or at least every time I listen to Transjoik. Though Transjoik is technically a Norwegian band, we\u2019ll let them in here on an honorary membership. Sami, the people formerly…<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/swedish\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2008\/08\/a-happy-sami-guy-small.jpg\")
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\n This happy Sami guy, Lars Jonas Johansson<\/a><\/strong>, lives nearby T\u00e4rnaby<\/strong> and welcomes visitors into his home. Just bring rubber boots if you plan to pet his reindeer – they sure poop a lot.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>
\n Your writer modeling a traditional Sami hat. The hat was made by an old woman – Inga Idivuoma<\/strong>, who is famous around Kiruna<\/strong> for her hand-made accessories. Unfortunately, she no longer makes them due to arthritis in her hands, and there are no young kids around willing to learn the craft and take over her business.
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\n Sami flag fluttering in the wind next to the clock tower in Kiruna<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n