First Saami flag, Inaugurated in 1986 by the 13th Nordic Sami Conference in Sweden

There are many Saami (90,000) living in the northern regions of Scandinavia.

The Saami are recognized as an indigenous people in the constitutions of Finland (8,000), and Norway (65,000).  In Sweden (20,000) they are treated as ethnic minority and/or indegenous people, with no constitutional representation.  In the Constitution of the Russion Federation, they are termed one of the many indeigenous "small in number" people of the north. 

   

Click on the Saami Flag for information about the rights of indigenous people.

The tourism industry in Finland has been criticized for turning Sami culture into a marketing tool.