Inari Sami (people)
Encyclopedia
Inari Sami are group of Sami people
who inhabit the area around Lake Inari
, Finland
. They speak Inari Sami language, which belongs to eastern Sami languages
. There are estimated 700 - 900 ethnic Inari Samis in Finland, of whom approximately 300 speak Inari Sami. They are the only group of Sami who live within one state and one municipality. Inari Sami are indigenous peoples
of their area.
and Ivalo River
in south, Lemmenjoki, Vaskajoki and Aksujärvi in west, Syysjärvi
, Säytsjärvi and Iijärvi
in northeast, and Lake Inari in east. In north the border has possibly been at Norwegian
side of the Inari River. Their traditional homeland were divided to 11 family areas. Today their traditional homeland is within Inari municipality
, where they form minority of population.
and Iron Age
in Fennoscandia
lasted from 2000 BC. to 1300 AD. There is only one discovery of bronze items from Inari. It was found on Lusman Island in Lake Inari, and it's dated to 900 – 700 BC. Similarly, there is only one finding of an iron item from the early Iron Age. Most of the findings from the later Iron Age were imported from elsewhere. There were active trading connections with the east, west and south. In Middle Ages, Norway, Sweden and Novgorod started competing for control of Lapland. Joint areas of taxation were born after the border treaty between Norway and Novgorod in 1326. The first written documents about Inari Sami are from the 1550's.
Christianity begun spreading among Inari Sami in 17th century and first church was built in the area in 1642. During the Christian mission many old traditions disappeared. Some shamans were executed for practicing witchcraft. Finnish migration to Lapland begun in 17th century and Finnish settlement reached Inari in late 18th century. There were also some Northern Sami immigration after Norway and Russia closed their borders in 1852, and eastern Sami immigration from south when Finnish settlement crawled northwards. In 1920s Spanish Flu
killed 190 peoples in Inari area, which constituted 10th of population. After the Second World War Skolts
from Pechenga
area were evacuated and settled to Inari. Till 1950s most Inari Samis lived in natural economy, but this was changed rapidly and during this process use of Inari Sami language decreased.
, but their numbers collapsed in 18th century. Inari Sami practiced yearly moving between winter and summer homes, though this practice disappeared quite early.
Inari Sami mythology had some same Gods as Finnish mythology did. Most important of them was Äijih, who had similar characteristics as Finnish Ukko
had. Other Gods included Piäiváž and Čäcialmai. Holy sites of Inari Sami (Sieidi) were often located in islands of Lake Inari. Most important of them was Ukonsaari. Only men were allowed to go into these holy sites, though women could go in if they dressed as men.
The Inari Sami costume is seen as important part of Inari Sami identity, and it has been used in Inari area uninterruptedly. The background of both women's and men's costumes is black or dark-blue with red, yellow and green used in the decor. Traditionally there was winter garment (peski) which was made out of reindeer coat, but it has largely been replaced with modern snowmobile suits.
Sami people
The Sami people, also spelled Sámi, or Saami, are the arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe’s northernmost...
who inhabit the area around Lake Inari
Lake Inari
Lake Inari is the third largest lake in Finland and the largest lake in Sápmi. It is located in the northern part of Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle. The lake is 117–119 meters above sea level and it is regulated at the Kaitakoski power plant in Russia...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. They speak Inari Sami language, which belongs to eastern Sami languages
Sami languages
Sami or Saami is a general name for a group of Uralic languages spoken by the Sami people in parts of northern Finland, Norway, Sweden and extreme northwestern Russia, in Northern Europe. Sami is frequently and erroneously believed to be a single language. Several names are used for the Sami...
. There are estimated 700 - 900 ethnic Inari Samis in Finland, of whom approximately 300 speak Inari Sami. They are the only group of Sami who live within one state and one municipality. Inari Sami are indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
of their area.
Inari Sami homeland
The traditional homeland of Inari Sami are shores of the Inari Sami, and the surrounding areas. Historically they are believed to have inhabited much wider area. According to historic sources and place names they have inhabited area which borders SaariselkäSaariselkä
Saariselkä is a mountain area and a village in Finland. It is a popular tourist destination, providing activities such as skiing, hiking and a spa. It is located in Northern Lapland and belongs to the Inari municipality....
and Ivalo River
Ivalo River
The Ivalo River is a long river that flows through upper Lapland into Lake Inari.The Ivalo River starts from the Korsa fjelds hugging the border between Inari and Enontekiö. The first streams branching off of it can be found on the bogs of Peltotunturi on the border between Finland and Norway...
in south, Lemmenjoki, Vaskajoki and Aksujärvi in west, Syysjärvi
Syysjärvi
-References:* *...
, Säytsjärvi and Iijärvi
Iijärvi
-References:* *...
in northeast, and Lake Inari in east. In north the border has possibly been at Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
side of the Inari River. Their traditional homeland were divided to 11 family areas. Today their traditional homeland is within Inari municipality
Inari, Finland
Inari is Finland's largest, sparsely populated municipality with four official languages, more than any other in the country. Its major sources of income are lumber industry and nature maintenance. With the museum Siida in the village of Inari, it is a center of Sami culture...
, where they form minority of population.
History
The first traces of human activity in the Inari area are dated to 8000 – 7000 BC. The first inhabitants are believed to have belonged to the Komsa culture. Most of the artifacts found from early inhabitants are linked to hunting and fishing. The Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
and Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
in Fennoscandia
Fennoscandia
Fennoscandia and Fenno-Scandinavia are geographic and geological terms used to describe the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Kola Peninsula, Karelia and Finland...
lasted from 2000 BC. to 1300 AD. There is only one discovery of bronze items from Inari. It was found on Lusman Island in Lake Inari, and it's dated to 900 – 700 BC. Similarly, there is only one finding of an iron item from the early Iron Age. Most of the findings from the later Iron Age were imported from elsewhere. There were active trading connections with the east, west and south. In Middle Ages, Norway, Sweden and Novgorod started competing for control of Lapland. Joint areas of taxation were born after the border treaty between Norway and Novgorod in 1326. The first written documents about Inari Sami are from the 1550's.
Christianity begun spreading among Inari Sami in 17th century and first church was built in the area in 1642. During the Christian mission many old traditions disappeared. Some shamans were executed for practicing witchcraft. Finnish migration to Lapland begun in 17th century and Finnish settlement reached Inari in late 18th century. There were also some Northern Sami immigration after Norway and Russia closed their borders in 1852, and eastern Sami immigration from south when Finnish settlement crawled northwards. In 1920s Spanish Flu
Spanish flu
The 1918 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus . It was an unusually severe and deadly pandemic that spread across the world. Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify the geographic origin...
killed 190 peoples in Inari area, which constituted 10th of population. After the Second World War Skolts
Skolts
The Skolt Sámi or Skolts are a visible Orthodox ethnic group in Lapland, Finland. They currently live in and around the villages of Sevettijärvi, Keväjärvi, Nellim in the municipality of Inari and also in the village of Neiden in the municipality of and Sør-Varanger, Norway...
from Pechenga
Pechenga River
Pechenga is a river in Murmansk Oblast, Russia . It is the namesake for the Pechenga settlement, Pechenga Monastery and the Pechenga District. The river discharges into the Pechenga Bay by the Barents Sea coast....
area were evacuated and settled to Inari. Till 1950s most Inari Samis lived in natural economy, but this was changed rapidly and during this process use of Inari Sami language decreased.
Culture
Unlike most of other Sami groups, Inari Sami didn't historically practice large scale reindeer husbandry. The more descriptive feature of Inari Sami culture was fishing and hunting. Fishing lost its importance because Lake Inari was being overfished in 20th century. The main hunting game was Finnish Forest ReindeerFinnish Forest Reindeer
The Finnish forest reindeer is a rare and threatened subspecies of reindeer native to Finland and northwestern Russia. They are found primarily in Russian Karelia, and the provinces of North Karelia, Savonia and Kainuu in Finland, though some range into central south Finland...
, but their numbers collapsed in 18th century. Inari Sami practiced yearly moving between winter and summer homes, though this practice disappeared quite early.
Inari Sami mythology had some same Gods as Finnish mythology did. Most important of them was Äijih, who had similar characteristics as Finnish Ukko
Ukko
In Finnish mythology, Ukko, in Estonian mythology Uku, is a god of sky, weather, crops and other natural things. He is the most significant god in Finnish and Estonian mythologies, and created the goddess Ilmatar, creator of the world. The Finnish word ukkonen, thunderstorm, is derived from his...
had. Other Gods included Piäiváž and Čäcialmai. Holy sites of Inari Sami (Sieidi) were often located in islands of Lake Inari. Most important of them was Ukonsaari. Only men were allowed to go into these holy sites, though women could go in if they dressed as men.
The Inari Sami costume is seen as important part of Inari Sami identity, and it has been used in Inari area uninterruptedly. The background of both women's and men's costumes is black or dark-blue with red, yellow and green used in the decor. Traditionally there was winter garment (peski) which was made out of reindeer coat, but it has largely been replaced with modern snowmobile suits.