Sapmi, the settlement area of the Sámi, an indigenous people in northern Europe. The Sámi, the inhabitants of Sápmi, have never had their own statehood and today live divided between the four countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.
In recent decades, however, the national consciousness of this indigenous people has regained strength and in 1986 the national flag was designed, which has been seen frequently in the region in recent years. The blue and red circle is the symbol for the sun (red) and moon (blue), while the other colors are the traditional colors of the Sámi.
The Sámi themselves are a minority in Scandinavia and make up only about 4% of the population. The population density in Sápmi is extremely low, at around two inhabitants per square kilometer in the cities and coastal areas. In the interior of the country, the number of inhabitants per square kilometer is zero.
The Sami Parliament “Sámediggi” is based in Karasjok (Norway) and represents the rights of all Sámi in the four countries.
However, as the legal status in the four countries is very different, they also have their own parliaments, Guovdageaidnu (Kautokeino / Norway), Gíron (Kiruna / Sweden), Anár (Inari / Finland) and Luyawr (Lowosero / Russia). Despite all the agreements, the Sámi are severely restricted in their rights, although they have the greatest rights in Norway.
Historically, the existence of the Sámi can be traced back around 10,000 years. However, their exact origins are not known, but it is assumed that they came from the vast expanses of northern Asia. There is evidence that the first permanent dwellings were established around 9800 years ago, which can be seen in rock carvings in Alta in Norway and Härjedalen in Sweden.
The Joik:
Joik is the traditional song of the Sámi, a monotonous, guttural overtone song in which nature and animals are sung about. Joik is largely improvised and dates back to the Stone Age. Joik is created by a person living in nature and with nature.
It expresses all feelings, it can be about the past and the future, but is mostly set in the present. If you want to understand the yoik, you have to deal with the connection between the seeds and nature. You don't joik about something, you joik something. A connection is created between the singer and the listener.
The Sámi are the last indigenous people of Europe! Their rights are inviolable and should be recognized equally by all four countries - Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.