Saami of Norway, Finland, Sweden, Russia?

Question

Or known commonly as Laplanders...which I have read is actually a politically correct term and prefer to be called the Saami, if anyone has any information on this or any links would be a great help to me. I have Norwegian roots and in those roots I have found some Saami heritage I was curious if anyone who had any experience can tell me a bit about them, are they comparable to other artic groups like Inuit?

Pardon if I sound dumb I just have not been able to find alot of information, I have Native American blood as well and was curious as to any similarities between the societies...like the reservations system here, discrimination in the past, indigenous grouping...stuff like that.

If you have any info thanks a bunch--jammieg.

Answer 1

http://www.samediggi.no/Artikkel.asp?AId=884&back=1&MId1=270

Answer 2

The Saami are one of the oldest intact ethnic groups in the world. Their language is a direct connection to the Indo-European root of all modern western tongues. Their native religious practices are the oldest in the Western world.

The Saami suffered considerable persecution for centuries. Some was religious, some was economic - much like the Native Americans suffered.

During the wonderful Winter Olympics at Lillehammer in Norway, the Saami suddenly became the center of the celebrations. Tapes of the opening and closing ceremonies feature prominent Saami performers.

There is a great deal of work that has been done by anthropologists, sociologists and historians about the Saami. Take the time to run an Internet search to get started. One book leads to another - especially after you go to the bibliography in the back ....

Have fun!

Answer 3

When I was in Siberia the natives were called Dolgans (Siberian laps) so I think there are probably several terms depending on which side of a border you are on.

When I was in Finland I had dinner with some folks including a guy who described himself as a Laplander ... I sometimes wonder if the folks who demand political correctness are doing it for themselves or the folks who are supposed to be offended.

In general terms the Laps are more like the Alaskans than any native folks. The Dolgans I met were nomadic folks pulling their houses on skis with reindeer - they seemed pretty free to wander.

I think only the native Americans have a reserve system.

Answer 4

Wow... y'all are appropriate, that's for particular! From what i could be certain, the Saami originated indoors a matching place as Hungarians, Estonians, and "conventional" Finns, that's in needed Asia. So, an prolonged, long term interior the previous, all of those ethnicities have been Asian, yet after centuries and centuries of holiday and combining, they're all in many circumstances Caucasian (Caucasian which ability eu/"white", no longer human beings from the Caucasus, of direction). Whoo! interesting stuff. i assume considering the fact that the i'm section Hungarian, we are very, very, very distant cousins, or a minimum of our ancestors have been! xD hi, cuz!