Katie+-+CA+-+SP10

Sami people began as nomads and ended split and forced into separate countries. Sami people then struggled to keep their culture alive through the pressures of having new culture and language forced on them. Now with the help of others, attempts at restoring thief language and culture are being made.

Nature was the main focus in Sami language and for the most part only the words nessisary for every day were made. Some other things like Gods and Goddesses were named as well. Many things did not even have a name if they were not important to everyday life. Language was passed down from elders to the young children, there was no school; this same method was used in the passing on of skills. Their language helped to bond the Sami people together(Mellott).

The Sami believe that the "noiadi" can enter the sport world by speaking with the spirits of animals. They believed in may gods and goddesses and that the afterlife was just as their human life was. Life for them would just continue on herding and hunting. "Sami noiadis believed certain animal spirits acted as their guides in journeys through the different worlds: birds were their guides in the spirit world, fish or snakes went into the underworld for them, and reindeer helped them in spiritual battles(Mellott)."

For the Sami people nature, man and art are all one. Earth also belongs equally to every living being and can and should not be controlled by man(Curfs). Art is a large part of their culture. The Sami don't look at art in terms of money they see it as a part of their life and culture(Curfs). The Sami people tell stories that represent themselfs, explain an event or show the relationship someone has with the environment(Landon). Another major part of Sami culture is "Yoiks" they are Sami poetry and music that had many different uses from describing nature to healing methods(Mellott). Most Sami were reindeer herders and nomads. Andreas Alariesto like many Sami artist describes the personalities of his people, their strong relationship with nature and the dismantling of their culture through his art(Curfs).

http://www.utexas.edu/courses/sami/images/Alariesto.JPG

Other governments and the pass of new legislation are harming the Sami culture. The Sami people were split into different more powerful countries; their lands were sold and there customs and languages forbidden. In school the children learned only the language and custom of their new country. "The Sami people nowadays live in four different countries: 2,000 in Russia, 5,500 in Finland, 20,000 in Sweden, and 40,000 in Norway." The Sami people now look to literature and symbols to keep alive their customs and values(Landon). "Sami culture, the Sami way of life, and the Sami language are being disrupted," says Landon. Now other countries are trying to assist the Sami people into regaining some of their lost ways(Mellott).

(Hanna), Linda Curfs. "The Mysticism of Sámi Art." Home | The University of Texas at Austin. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. . This source was not as good as the other two in how much information it provided but it helped in some areas. Although it did also supply a picture that helped in he values section.

Landon, Philip. "Kirsti Paltto." The Review of Contemporary Fiction 16.2 (1996): 79+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 27 Jan. 2011.

This source was were useful for a bit of background knowledge and it also helped support some of the information found in other readings. It gave useful information about the distraction of the Sami culture as well.

Mellott), Mávnos (Joey. "The Sami World-View." Sami Journal. Home | The University of Texas at Austin. Web. 27 Jan. 2011.

This source had great information about the beliefs. It also helped a bit for the behaviors.