Origins and early history
- The Sami people are indigenous to northern Europe
- Believed to have inhabited the region since prehistoric times
- Their distinct culture and languages developed over millennia
Traditional livelihoods and lifestyle
- Historically, Sami practiced reindeer herding, fishing, hunting, and gathering
- Semi-nomadic lifestyle tied to seasonal migration
- Reindeer herding central to economy and cultural identity
Colonial impact and assimilation efforts
- Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, and Russian governments colonized and oppressed the Sami
- Assimilation policies aimed to eradicate language and traditional practices
- Discrimination and forced relocations occurred into the 20th century
