Sami Culture in Finland

Sami culture is part of the multicultural heritage in Inari, Finland. The Sami are an indigenous people with their own colorful culture, language, identity, and history. They are also the only indigenous people within the European Union spread across Scandinavia and Russia. In Inari at the Sami History Museum, we were able to learn about the Sami culture.

The Sami people have been subjected to discrimination and racism by the Governments in Scandinavian countries. They have lost their land to farmers and industries, been subjugated to racial biology and have had their religion, culture, and language suppressed. Even though the Scandinavian land is their home, the Sami people have lived a history filled with abuses, violations, and racism.

Reindeer has always been a main component of the Sami culture. Almost every part of the reindeer is used. The meat is used for cooking, the fur and skin are used for clothes and shoes, and the horns are transformed into various uses like knifes or beautiful artwork. Reindeer meat is a very popular type of food in Sami cuisine. The most popular type would be in the form of a stew made from carrots, potatoes, and slow-cooked reindeer meat.

The reindeer herders that we visited at the farm in Finland make a living by selling reindeer products. Petting reindeer was one of my most favorite experiences in Finland as I had never been so close to a reindeer before. I was very nervous at first but since they were so cute, I decided to start petting whichever reindeer appeared the closest to where I was standing in the farm. This was an amazing experience to have because if I were not on this seminar, then I would not have gotten to physical pet reindeer.