The Sami are sometimes referred to as Lapps, but prefer to be called Samis. Their culture has been developing in Northern Scandinavia since the arrival of the first people 11,000 years ago. Like other aboriginal peoples, the Sami lived at one with nature. The Sami wore colourful jackets and lived in tents and turf huts whilst they followed the reindeer.

Strong culture

For a long time the Sami were an oppressed people and their culture was in danger of dying out. Today the Sami stand stronger than most other aboriginal people in the world. They have their independence day, and their own flag and parliament.

Mari Boine is a famous Norwegian artist of Sami descent who has helped to strengthen this trend. She is a proud symbol of Sami culture in urbane, modern Norway. She uses her Sami background and the folk music of Northern Scandinavia in creating her music.

Sami people live nowadays in an area which spreads from Jämtlands Län in Sweden through Northern Norway and Finland to the Kola Peninsula in Russia. There are some 100,000 Sami living here, about half of them in Norway.

Karasjok - the Sami capital

Experience the culture and history of the Sami people at Sápmi Culture Park. Sápmi is located in Karasjok, a sami village at the edge of Finnmarksvidda.

With its recognised Sami institutions and living Sami culture, Karasjok is the Sami capital with almost 3,000 inhabitants. Its nearest airport is Lakselv, approximately 75 kilometres away (an hour's drive).