Mythologies of the Sám Tribe
SAMI GODS, GODDESSESS AND MYTHICAL ENTITIES
The words in different Sami languages are marked with:
NS – North Sámi language/dialect.
SS – South Sámi language/dialect.
LS – Lule Sámi language/dialect.
GS – Gildin Sámi language/dialect.
Arja (ns): Female gázzi (Spirit) -entity. The name means energy, determination.
Beaivi (ns) / Biejvve (ls) / Biejjie (ss): Sun. Sun worship is important in the Sami belief system.
Barbmoáhkku (ns): Ensures that all migratory birds return well from warmer land, Barbmu. Getting help from Guorga, the crain.
Rananiejte (ss): “Spring girl”, «the reindeer calf girl” or “the green girl”. Provides, among other things, for good reindeer grazing.
Bieggaolmmái (ns): “The windman» determines the wind direction. He was among other things important during wild reindeer hunting.
Boazuáhkku (ns): Goddess of the reindeer and gives hunting luck. Possibly identical to Juksahkku.
Čahceolmmái (ns) / Tsjaetsieolmaj (ss): The waterman keeper of the lakes and fishes.
Čahcerávga / guovdi (ns): Living in the river or the sea. Used to scare the children, as part of the child rearing.
Čahkalakkat (ns): Chakal: Live by springs. They are small and naked. In the head they have healingpower and the belly is full of silver money. You can get the medicine and the silver money by fooling them and killing them.
Gieddegeasgalgu (ns): wise, female being who lives on the outskirts of the residence and whom one can turn to when you have it extra difficult. Known from North Sami areas. In recent times, the gieddegeasgalgu has been given the negative meaning “chatter crone».
Gufihtar (ns): These goblin like entities live in gufihtarčohkka, “gufihtarhills». The gufitar lure people in, and they must not eat or drink anything while they are inside the hill, because then you never come out again.
Guolleipmil (ns): “The fish god”. Many sacrificial stones by lakes, sea and rivers are called Guolleipmil.
Hálddit (ns): Protects animals and plants. Sometimes represented by sacrificial stones/ sieidi.
Ipmel / Ibmil / Jubmel / Jupmele (gs): Some shamans believed that Raedieaehtjie and Raediegiedtie were the same, namely Ipmel / Ibmil. He is considered the highest god. During the Christian mission, the missionaries adopted the name Ipmel / Ibmil, and it became the Sami name of the Christian God.
Serge-edni (gs): Raedieaehtjie or Ipmel’s wife. The one who creates the human spirit and leads it to Matharáhkku when children are created.
Radius kieddi (gs) / Raediegiedtie (ss): Raedieaehtjies son. Radius-acce / -tattje (gs) / Raedieaehtjie (ss): The highest god, the primordial father, the highest.
Jábmiidáhkku (ns) / Jábbmeahkku (ls) / Jaemiehaahka (ss): The godess of death who rules in the kingdom of death Jábmiidáibmu.
Jábmiid- (ns): The deceased who lives underground.
Leabeolbmai (ns) / Liejbalmaj (ls) / Liejpalmaj (ss): «The alder wood man». The god of hunting and caretaker of the wild animals. Receives offerings before bear hunting to protect hunters. Alder wood is considered sacred. The red color from the bark was used to paint the drums, and the juice was sprayed on returned bear hunters.
Mailmenraedie: Máilbmi (ns) + raedie (ss) = The god of the world.
Maadteraahkas (ss) / Mahtaráhkku (ns / ls): «Mother earth, Gaia» or “great-grandmother”. Mother of the three goddesses Sáráhkku, Juksáhkku and Uksáhkku. Has a part in the creation of children.
Naaidegazzi / saivugázzi (ns), noaidegadze / saivogadze (gs): Spirit allie . They can look like little people dressed in colorful Sami clothes. They can be ancestors. They can choose people they teach to become shamans and follow them for the rest of their lives, including on soul journeys. Gazzi can also be inherited or accompany as a dowry.
Noidae / saivoloddi, noaideguolli / saivoguolli and noaide heritage / saivosuvari (ns): The shamans can have spirit allies in the form of animals. These can be birds (noidae / saivoloddi), fish (n oaideguolli / saivoguolli) or a reindeer bull (noaidesarvvis / saivosuvari). The strongest shamans have reindeer bulls as spirit allies.
Saajve / saajveolmai (ss), sáivo / sáivo-olmai (gs): spirits associated with sacred lakes or mountains also known as saajve (sáivo). Anyone who are connected to saajve has spirit allies in the form of animals at his service, see below.
Rohttu (ns): The god of sickness and death. Stays in a gloomy dead kingdom, Rohttuaibmu.
Ruđot (ns): Female gázzi beings.
Stállu (ns): Giant or troll-like figure. Children are scared with Stállu as part of the child rearing.
Joeksaáhka (ss) / Juksáhkku (ns / ls): «The goddess of hunting. Living in boaššu, the sacred part of the lávvu (tipi) behind the fireplace. Has a part in the creation of children. Can transform an unborn child into a boy.
Oksaahka (ss) / Uhksáhkku (ns / ls): “The door goddess”. Lives under the doorstep and guards the home against all evil. Watches out for children during their first years of life, especially when they learn to walk.
Saaraahka (ss) / Sáráhkku (ns / ls): Important goddess in southern Sami areas. Lives under the fireplace. Recives sacrifices of all that can be drunk. Important in the creation of children. Helps women in menstruation and when giving births. Children were baptized in the name of Sarahkku.
Tiermes (gs) / Dierpmis (ns) / Bajánolmmái (ns) / Aijeke (gs) / Atjek (ls) / Horagálles (gs) / Hovrengaellies (ss) / Thor: Various names for the thunder god.
The Sámi (/ˈsɑːmi/SAH-mee; also spelled Sami or Saami) are a Finno-Ugric-speaking people inhabiting the region of Sápmi (formerly known as Lapland), which today encompasses large northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and of the Murmansk Oblast, Russia, most of the Kola Peninsula in particular. The Sámi have historically been known in English as Lapps or Laplanders, but these terms are regarded as offensive by the Sámi, who prefer the area’s name in their own languages, e.g. Northern Sámi Sápmi. Their traditional languages are the Sámi languages, which are classified as a branch of the Uraliclanguage family. Traditionally, the Sámi have pursued a variety of livelihoods, including coastal fishing, fur trapping, and sheep herding. Their best-known means of livelihood is semi-nomadic reindeer herding. Currently about 10% of the Sámi are connected to reindeer herding, which provides them with meat, fur, and transportation. 2,800 Sámi people are actively involved in reindeer herding on a full-time basis in Norway.[10] For traditional, environmental, cultural, and political reasons, reindeer herding is legally reserved for only Sámi in some regions of the Nordic countries.
The Sami people, also spelled Sámi or Saami, are the indigenous people inhabiting the Arctic area of 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 the only indigenous people of Scandinavia recognized under the international conventions of Indigenous peoples, and hence the northernmost indigenous people of Europe. Sami ancestral lands span an area of approximately 388,350 km2 (150,000 sq. mi.), which is approximately the size of Sweden, in the Nordic countries. Their traditional languages are the Sami languages classified as a branch of the Uralic language family.
The Sámi´s are native people of Scandinavia. There are about 20 000 people in this world who speak Sámi languages. These days you can find Sámi´s all over the world (and people with Sámi ancestry) but in general, most Sámi´s live in the Lapland of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Kuala Peninsula in Russia. This is why, for example in Finland, Lapland is sometimes called as “Saamenmaa” the land of the Sámi. Sámi´s were nomads and reindeer herders and still today many Sámi´s are reindeer herders. Already in the first Frozen, there were Sámi influences because Kristoff´s character was inspired by Sámi culture. Kristoff´s outfit is similar to traditional Sámi outfits. Different Sámi tribes and regions have their own outfits and designs. The pointy shoes and outfits made of reindeer skin are common (sorry Sven).
The total population of Sami in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia is estimated to approximately 80,000, and about half of them live in Norway. The vast majority of settlements are located in Northern Norway, primarily the county of Finnmark. There are, however, Sami communities as far south as Trøndelag as well. Many think that Sami traditions only consists of colourful costumes, traditional handicraft products, and catching reindeer with lassos. But the Sami heritage is also visible and alive in everything from rap music and modern architecture to contemporary art and cutting edge design. The modern Sami can be both an award-winning filmmaker and a reindeer herder on a snowmobile. But they might both feel the same deep relationship with nature. If you visit Northern Norway, you can also experience the Sami way of life. Camp in a traditional lavvo (Sami tent) under the northern lights, get a close encounter with reindeer – or go see a Sami art exhibition.
In the twenty-first century, Sami culture is meeting the modern world in a new way. No Sami people live a completely traditional life today, and the everyday lives of many of these indigenous people appear very modern indeed. At the same time, however, interest in joik, duoddji and the language itself is increasing rapidly. Traditional joik is being blended with modern rhythms. The Sami National Theatre Beaivas, rich production of literature, Sami media and broadcasting are all using the Sami language in new fora. This indicates that there is hope for the language and culture.
The Sami people are an indigenous group that live around the arctic. They had a strong belief in the spiritual world and the ability to contact it. Each source of nature was connected to some sort of god. An example of this is Mano, the goddess of the moon. She was seen as dangerous and unpredictable, she was mostly worshiped around the winter solstice during the time of the New Moon.
Myths and Facts About Reindeer and the Sami People
The story of the Sami people is both inspiring and tragic, bearing many similarities to the way in which other indigenous populations have been treated in the American continent. Talking about the Sami People will probably take weeks if not months since they have a unique heritage and story so here’s the bullet-point version: The Sami people is an indigenous people of Northern Europe that currently inhabit the northern regions of what is currently Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. There are many autonomous groups and languages within the Sami people so it’s impossible to talk about homogeneity amongst them. They used to be nomadic and peaceful Reindeer herders and had such a deep connection with Mother Nature that they never once claimed possession of the land which made them easy targets for the newborn countries that wanted to expand their own territory and draw borders.
SÁMI: AN INDIGENOUS PEOPLES UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
Europe’s only Indigenous Peoples
The Sámi are Europe’s only recognised indigenous peoples and have been living in the far north of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia since time immemorial. Traditionally, the Sámi have been fishermen, trappers and reindeer herders based on cross border activities. Today, it is estimated that approximately 60,000 Sámi live in Norway, 2,600 of whom are still practicing reindeer herding. Reindeer herding is more than just a profession, it is a way of life for the Sámi carrying important cultural and spiritual value. Next to herding, Sámi craftwork, widely known as duodji, is also a meaningful activity for Europe’s northernmost indigenous peoples and nowadays bejewels Tromsø’s stores and restaurants.
6 Things you didn’t know about the Sámi People
- Due to the close connection between Sámi culture and reindeer herding, the Sámi calendars have been traditionally divided into 8 seasons instead of 4, based on the yearly cycles of the reindeer.
- The Sámi word for aurora borealis is “guovssahas”, meaning “the light you can hear”.
- In the past, reindeer milk was produced into cheese made in low basins.
- The Sámi peoples of the three Scandinavian states have established their own parliaments which operate alongside with the three national parliaments.
- Depending on the nature and terms of division, there are at least ten or more Sámi languages.
- Sámi National Day is February 6 and in Tromsø we celebrate with National Sámi Week which includes a thrilling Lasso Throwing Championship and Reindeer Racing!
Life in Touch With Nature
Sami people have always felt close to nature, which is basically the foundation of their society. Throughout history, animals have been their main source of food and income. Back in the days they were hunters, they were farmers, they were fishermen and last but not least, they were reindeer herders. Today around 2600 of the Sami population in Northern Norway make a living or supplement their income through herding reindeer, while most people have adopted a modern lifestyle and have modern jobs. Sami handcraft traditions are another strong feature of their iconic culture. The traditional gákti, in Norwegian called kofte, is today mostly used for dressing up for celebrations and special occasions. Unlike the Norwegian bunad, it is totally acceptable to modernize it in line with trends and fashion. Topaz of Norway and Swedish Kero are modern shoe manufacturers who make trendy leather boots based on Sami traditional footwear. Hand-made knives, wood carving, tin- and pearl embroidery, woven shoelaces and jacket seams are other examples of Sami handcrafts that have survived in a modernized society.
For the Pre-Christian Sami people who inhabited parts of modern-day Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Russia, fishing was a livelihood. Like reindeer-hunting and herding, it was an arduous test of physical endurance and a regular opportunity to express reverence for spiritual forces. It was nothing like the contemporary cakewalk repetition of hook, line, and sinker. Indeed, for the Sami communities in Finland, it was much, much more. These Sami held certain types of fish in high regard, believing that those which dwelled in the pure glacial lakes (such as Äkässaivo and Pakasaivo) were privy to otherworldly secrets. The scaly wise guys were thought to be the aquatic confidantes of the departed who set up house in the lake’s nether regions, the saivoaimo. How did the fish and the deceased communicate? According to tradition, the sáiva lakes had a double-bottom. Thus, the upper and lower worlds were linked by a kind of limen, an inter-dimensional trap door: “The double-bottomed lake is associated with the idea of a stratified world; the lake offered access to the world below. The sáiva lake was inhabited by spirits in the shape of humans and animals that could function as protectors or help people to hunt or fish. Sáiva lakes were considered as sacred and offerings were brought to their shores.”
1) The Sámi are a group of indigenous people that come from the region of Sápmi, which stretches across the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola peninsula in Russia.
2) No-one is exactly sure how many Sámi people there are, but estimates range from between 50,000 – 200,000! On the 6 February every year, they celebrate Sámi Peoples Day. They wear traditional clothes, eat traditional food and fly the Sámi flag!
3) Their traditional outfits – known as the Gakti – are worn at parties, festivals, weddings, baptisms, funerals and more. The handmade outfits are decorated with different designs so the Sámi can easily tell where another person is from.
4) The Sámi are best known for reindeer herding. Reindeer meat is used for cooking, leather and fur is used to make shoes and clothing, and antlers and bones make useful tools and decorative objects. The Sámi are also skilled fishers and sheep herders.
5) Reindeer are so important to the Sámi way of life, that many people go to a special university to learn how to care for their animals. Like we might have classes in Maths or English, they have classes that teach them how to look after the reindeer herds – how cool is that?!
6) There are nine different Sámi languages! Thankfully, the word ‘reindeer’ is the same for all Sámi people, meaning they can communicate with each other about reindeer, no matter what language they’re speaking!
7) Have you seen the movie Frozen II? Check this out – the make-believe Northuldra tribe in the Enchanted Forest are based on the Sámi people of northern Norway! During the film, Elsa and Anna learn that their mother was one of the Northuldra people, which makes the sisters half Northuldran.
8) The Sámi are ‘semi-nomadic’, meaning they don’t stay in the same place all year. Sámi herders migrate with their reindeer during the seasons, heading to the mountains for winter and coming back together with the community in the summer. On the journey, Sámi herders will camp in a traditional tent, called a lavvo. A lavvo is a circular frame of poles leaning inwards towards a pointy top – similar in style to the teepees and wigwams used by the indigenous people of America.
9) Traditionally, the Sámi people lived in a group of families called a ‘siida‘. The word siida is used to describe both the reindeer herding area and the team of people who look after the herd.
10) The Sámi people have their own parliaments to represent them in Norway, Sweden and Finland, and their own newspapers and radio stations, that report on issues that concern the Sámi people!
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