Sámi celebrate their National Day

On Feb. 6, northern Europe’s 150,000 indigenous Sámi celebrated their National Day, wearing traditional dress and holding celebrations throughout Norway, Sweden and Finland.

In Inari, the centre of Sámi cultural life in Finland, more than 300 attended a gala at the Siida Sámi museum. Outside, they gathered to hoist the blue, red and yellow Sámi flag while schoolchildren sang the Sámi national anthem.

Pekka Aikio, president of the Sámi Parliament in Finland, took the opportunity to criticize Finland’s record on recognizing the traditional land rights of Sámi in northern Finland.

Aikio told the Lapin Kansa newspaper that he would like to see a transnational office established for Sámi in the three Scandinavian countries, a move that could help Sámi in Finland obtain at least the level of rights that Sámi enjoy in Norway and Sweden.