sami

Everyday

1. The Sami are an Indigenous people of the far north of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia, an area called Sápmi; many have herded reindeer. tree →
2. The Sami languages, spoken by the Sami people. tree →
3. (a name) Sami is also a first name for a person, used in Finland and in Arabic-speaking countries. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and world cultures lessons, the Sami show life in the Arctic, reindeer herding, colourful traditional clothes called gákti and joik songs. Phrases: the Sami people, Sami culture. Use the name Sami, not the old word Lapp, which is seen as rude.

Examples

• The Sami have lived in the far north of Europe for thousands of years. tree →
• Some Sami families herd reindeer. tree →
• She wore a bright blue Sami dress for the festival. tree →
• A joik is a traditional Sami song. tree →
• Sami children may learn both Sami and Norwegian at school. tree →
• Our pen pal Sami lives in Helsinki. tree →

Note

Capital S. Spellings Sami, Sámi and Saami are all used. Do not call them Lapps or the region Lapland in a way that ignores the people; Sápmi is their own name for their land.