The Lapps is the only indigenous people living in the northern parts of Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia.

In Four Countries

• in the northern regions of Finland
• the northern parts of Norway
• the inner parts of northern Sweden
• the Kola peninsula in northern Russia

The Lapps call themselves "the Sami". And the whole area where the Lapps live, is called "Sapmi" (the land of the Sami).

How many Lapps are there?

• in Finland about 6.000
• in Norway about 42.000
• in Sweden about 20.000
• in Russia about 2.000

Who Is a Lapp (Sami)?

There is no clear definition of what a Sami is. But according to Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish law in connection with Sami parliament elections, you are a Sami, and you can vote if :

1. you consider yourself a Sami.
2. have Sami as your mother tongue
3. your parents or grandparents must have had Sami as their mother tongue.

You must fulfill point no. 1. But you only have to fulfill no. 2 OR no. 3.

The Sami Language

1. The eastern (spoken in the Russian part of Sapmi and a little in Finland)
2. The central/northern (spoken i northern parts of Finland, Norway and Sweden)
3. The southern (spoken i central parts of Norway and Sweden)

Portrays of Lapps

Lapland Blog