Finnish Sami

Finland is dark green. The other EU countries are light green.

Finland is known for its lakes, forests and icy winters.

The central and northern parts of Finland are the traditional home of the Sami people (once known as Lapps).

Regions where Sami live

The Sami are far Northern native people who have lived for centuries by hunting, fishing, and herding reindeer.

In modern times, their lives have changed with cell phones, snowmobiles and electricity that lights up their long winter nights where the sun never rises. It's hard to find anyone who still lives in the traditional ways as shown in the old photo below.

But still, there is magic about the Sami. They have a long heritage that includes a special relationship with nature, which was harsh and full of danger in cold, dark night. Their lives depended on each other for survival in a way that modern people, with our many conveniences, can't really understand.