Today, February 6, the Sami people of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia and the World celebrates the Sami National Day.
The Samis (previously known in English as Lapps) are the indigenous people of northern Scandinavia. There are about 80 000 – 100 000 living in the area called Sápmi which ranges over an area in northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Murmansk Oblast of Russia.
The Samis are regarded as the oldest peoples of Europe.They have their own cultural heritage, language, flag and parliament.
The Samis regretably once faced opression of their culture, including bans on use of their native tongue.
Today the Samis celebrate their National Day to mark the anniversary of the first Sami congress.
Happy Sami National Day!
Image: Anna Öhlund / imagebank.sweden.se