Norway's Sami - Norway - page 898

Sami Religion
Historically, Sami religious traditions were characterised mainly by a relationship to nature
and its inherent godlike archetypes. In sites of special power, particularly prominent rock
formations, people made offerings to their gods and ancestors to ensure success in hunting
or other endeavours. Intervention and healing were affected by shamanic specialists, who
used drums and small figures to launch themselves onto out-of-body journeys to the ends
of the earth in search of answers. As with nearly all indigenous peoples in the northern
hemisphere, the bear, as the most powerful creature in nature, was considered a sacred an-
imal.
Historically, another crucial element in the religious tradition was the singing of the joik
(also spelt yoik; literally 'song of the plains'). So powerful was this personal mantra that
early Christian missionaries considered it a threat and banned it as sinful. Although most
modern Sami profess Christianity, elements of the old religion are making a comeback.
According to Norway's national statistics bureau, just under 10% (or around 3000) of Nor-
way's Sami are involved in reindeer herding, primarily in the Finnmark region of Norway's
far north, including roughly equal numbers of men and women.
Sami Sites
Varanger Sami Museum , Varangerbotn
Ceavccageadge , Mortensnes
Sápmi Park , Karasjok
Sámi Parliament , Karasjok
Sámi National Museum , Karasjok
Kautokeino Museum , Kautokeino
Sami Organisations
The first session of the Norwegian Sámi Parliament was held in 1989. The primary task of
the parliament, which convenes in Karasjok and whose 39 representatives are elected from
Sami communities all over Norway every four years, is to protect the Sami language and
culture.