The Diversity of Sacred Lands in Europe - IUCN

Greetings from the Saami Parliament
Juvvá Lemet – Klemetti Näkkäläjärvi
The Constitution of Finland guarantees
for the Saami the status of an indigenous
people, the right to their own language
and culture. The constitution
grants Saami people cultural autonomy
in Northern Finland in their homeland,
which covers the municipalities
of Enontekiö, Inari and Utsjoki and the
northern part of Sodankylä.
The Saami Language Act protects the
language, and the responsibilities of
the Saami Parliament are specially set
by law. The Saami are the only indigenous
people in European Union. In Finland
there are three Saami languages
spoken: the North, Inari and Skolt
Saami. All of the languages are spoken
in Inari municipality. There are around
9300 Saamis living in Finland. There
are also Saami people living in Norway,
Sweden and Russia and all together
there are ca. 70 000 – 100 000 Saamis.
The traditional Saami livelihoods are
reindeer herding, fishing, hunting,
gathering and Saami handicrafts, Sámi
Duodji. The only viable traditional livelihood
is reindeer herding. Hunting and
fishing have become secondary livelihoods.
An important part of the Saami
culture is the knowledge embedded in
the language on places, nature, flora
and fauna and the community’s history.
The Saami musical tradition, yoik, is an
important part of our culture and the
< The President of the Saami Parliament participated in the Seminar and wished all the participants
welcome to Sápmi.
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