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 * __The Sami People__**

Language served mostly a utilitarian function in Sami society. It is structured mostly around aspects of the environment that were most relevant to their lives. In 2001, there were around ten recognized Sami languages, six of which had an actual written language. The other four have very few speakers are in danger of extinction. In the 1880s, Norway adopted strict policies to try to assimilate their indigenous populations, including a ban on the Sami native language. This caused a loss of traditions and a fading perception of their history.
 * Language**

The Sami people practiced a shamanistic religion. They believed every animal had a spirit and that those spirits were contacted by the shaman, or the noiadi. The noiadi believed certain animal spirits acted as their guides; birds guided them in the spirit world, fish or snakes guided them in underworld, and reindeer helped them in spiritual battles. They also believed an intimate connection between all living things was necessary. However, the Sami people did not believe in heaven and hell. They believed that life continued on after death as it had been in life, still doing all the same chores and activities. Certain sacred places were said to be the places where the deceased lived after death. Many gods and goddesses were worshiped, for things like the ground, sky, hearth, childbirth, hunt, and individual animal species. While the new Western views of the world believed nature was something to be conquered, the Sami people thought themselves to be a part of nature, meaning they treated nature with respect and reverence; all parts of a hunted animal were used, killing an animal was always followed by a sort of sacrifice to please the animal’s spirit, and exploitation of animals for profit was discouraged.
 * Beliefs**

The Sami people value nature. They believe themselves to be one with nature, as previously stated. Reindeer play a large role in their culture. In fact, in the book by Ellen Marie Vars titled __Boarding Schoo__l, the protagonist is abused constantly by other Samis because her family does not have any reindeer. Reindeer husbandry is the traditional occupancy of their culture. Because of this, most Samis lived a nomadic lifestyle. The Sami people also have a traditional form of singing called joiking. The duo of Sara Marielle and Lawra Somby are Norwegian-based Sami people who use the traditional form of joiking in an indie rock way to appeal to the younger generation.  Plus, despite their very native upbringing, there are Sami political, cultural, and youth organizations in all four Sami countries; Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. There is also a Sami parliament in each of the three scandinavian countries.
 * Behaviors & Values**

 Cultural change is playing a negative role on the Sami culture. The Sami habitats are shrinking due to mining operations, the clean-cutting of forests and the construction of hydroelectric power plants. The Sami Language Act, adopted in April 1988, states: "It is the responsibility of the authorities of the State to create conditions enabling the Sami people to preserve and develop its language, culture and way of life." It went into effect in the 1990s. The language law of 1992 grants Sami people the right to use the Sami languages for all government services in Finland. And on top of all this, the Sami people have never pushed outsiders away, they just try to convince them to understand.

 **__Works Cited__**

 Secondary source: This document was important because it discussed the language ban from the 1800s. It was from an encyclopedia, making it a secondary source.

 Mellott, MÃvnos-Joey. "Sami Journal." //The University of Texas at Austin//. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. .

 Journal: This journal was important because it contained a lot of information about the Sami language and beliefs. I found it under the "Academic Journals" section on Gale, and it was a reliable source because it was from the University of Texas.

 Nickson, Chris. "Adjagas, Adjagas, (Trust Me 027)." //Sing Out!// Autumn 2007: 165. //Student Resource Center - Gold//. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. __[]__

Print: This article was important because it talked about how traditional Sami singing was applied to modern day culture. It was a print source because it came from a magazine.

"Sami language - Definition." //WordIQ Dictionary//. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. < [|__http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Sami_language__] >.

Secondary source: This source was important because it gave lots of information on their language. It was a secondary source because it came form a dictionary-type source.

Skjelbred, Ann Helene Bolstad. "'These Stories Will Not Lead You To Heaven': An Encounter with Two Sami Narrators." //Folklore// 112.1 (2001): 47. //Student Resource Center - Gold//. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. __[|http://find.galegroup.com/gps/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=IPS&docId=A74483683&source=gale&srcprod=SRCG&userGroupName =pl7053&version=1.0]__

Primary source: This source was important because it discussed Sami traditions. It was a primary source because it interviewed an actual Sami woman.

"An introduction to the Sami people." //Welcome to Boreale in Sweden.//. N.p., 26 Mar. 1996. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. .

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"> Primary source: This source is important because it talked about how reindeer played a major role in their culture. It was a primary source because it was written by an actual Sami woman.