Sámi Identity and Genealogy: What Does it Mean to be Sámi? Troy Storfjell

This class is part of the National Nordic Museum’s 2020 Virtual Nordic Genealogy Conference.
Title: “Sámi Identity and Genealogy: What Does it Mean to be Sámi?” Troy Storfjell
In this session, we will examine what it means to identify as Sámi, one of the indigenous peoples of Northern Europe, through the lens of a genealogical perspective. Geography, history, language, and culture of the Sámi people are discussed.

[@ahkkariq7406]

I am a Norwegian Sami. All my grandparents had Sami as their mother tongue. I grew up in a redefined Sami culture. We all had cultural characteristics that we were Sea Sami, but no one told my generation that we actually were Sami. If we asked our parents why all old people could speak Sami, we got the answer that they had learned it to be able to communicate with the reindeer-herding Sami - which was the only kind of Sami I knew about as a child. I was close to 40 years old before I understood that I was actually Sami. In fact, what he says can not happen happened to me - I woke up one day and realized I was Sami. My connection to Sami culture was so strong that I just understood it. At school we had only learned about reindeer herding Sami, we had never learned that most Sami were NOT reindeer herders. The Sami shame was so strong that our parents even after the Alta case denied that they were Sami. In a way according to his definition they were not Sami, even if they grew up with Sami speaking parents. They denied that they were Sami, but they couldn't deny me or my sister being Sami. A Sami revitalization took place in the village from which two of our grandparents came. It became the way in for me and my sister, and gradually more of our siblings. We were not received warmly by the reindeer herders from the interior, but we stood our ground. Today I stand firm in my Sami identity, and have passed it on to my children. I am a registered in the Norwegian Sami population, and my children can therefore register if they want. My daughters wear gákti, and consider themselves both Sami and Norwegian. No one should tell me that I do not have the same right to define myself as Sami as people from what we today know as traditional Sami areas. 100 years ago, large parts of the municipality I grew up in was almost 100% populated by Sami. We never moved out - we were robbed of our rightful Sami heritage. But we still inherited it - they just called it something other than Sami.

[@yasminnilima2366]

Iam robbed by my birthright in many ways. Since the religion is deeply involved in my family it says in the churchbooks my grandmother has unknown numbers of children. My grandmother told me her story. The family an other story. Some delicate matter of family. And I am all together robbed of both my sami and kvendic identity by this delicate family matter. Both are indigenous people of scandinavia. Sami is known of Kvendic less known of.

[@artisticautistic9664]

I'm US born but my heart grandmother spoke sami and my grandmother understood it, my mother understood some. All the women in my ancestry go back to sapmi. Not that that matters, in an objective sense. I remember hearing a sami woman say that 'reindeer don't make us sami. Sami is in us, we remember being sami.'

[@Ekinnajay]

I am an immigrant from Norway, came here when I was young. My dad is from Finnmark, and I, my mother, and my siblings were all born in Western Norway. There was never any talk of my dad being Sami, and what he did share about Sami wasn't always nice. I am now in my 60s and did a recent DNA on a lark, thinking maybe I would have a smidge Russian mixed in my norwegian. But no russian at all (although I understand that doesn't mean I might not be). Instead, I was just over 50% Norwegian, 1.6% Inuit, and the rest evenly divided between Finnish and Swedish. Many of my DNA relatives are wearing traditional Sami Gakti. All 3, especially the Inuit (negligible, I know, and I lay no claim to being Inuit) were very surprising to me. And I was perplexed. I couldn't figure out how we were Sami, Swedish, or Finnish and that this was not part of my family lore. I also did some genealogy, and found, through church records, that my great grandfather and great grandmother were definitely Sami, that they spoke Sami at home. As for the rest of his family, there are no records. The little i could trace that were from Sweden and Finland, were from the Sami areas, so maybe. Mostly I feel a sense of great loss, that through racism and forced assimilation, a great part of my cultural background has been erased. I understand better why it isn't part of my spoken heritage and understand why my Sami ancestors did what they did, as people need to survive. I have tried to read and learn as much as I can, and continue to be both delighted and saddened by everything I have learned. I am proud to have both Norwegian and Sami heritage, as well as possible Finnish and Swedish

[@wendyking9759]

I've been wanting to find other norweguans/lappish immigrant here in the us

[@wendyking9759]

I too feel a loss at having been denied my cultural heritage, and in my case it was by my very own mother. I left at 13 for good

[@TJS3]

From Finland. Thank you for this, we have much to learn about Sami and each other. I hope we can soon have the finnish laws the way they should be. Also there is many projects we need to fight against, usually mining or construction to sacred sites. Ukonsaari island is good example, it had platforms for tourists and they are now to be taken down cause the place is sacred to Sami and the island is threated really poorly by tourists. But as normal finnish guy I just try to learn this stuff and take a stand when needed, lectures like this give me so much more info.

[@ridgecrestvarietyshow7324]

I agree with you TJ. As a typical American "I try to learn as I go and take a stand as needed". I first learned about the Sami people through a favorite KZbin site and was immediately drawn to their history and culture. In particular I love their music and fierce independence! Much appreciation to Mr. Troy for enlightening us on the Sami people.

[@Starandswords]

Troy is wonderful! I had the honor of meeting him via zoom in a college class surrounding the Sámi last year.

[@kailyjamessokame.6028]

Shout-out with a proud voice from Michigan!!!

[@Missjones34]

I think my Finnish side is Sami we were here since early 1900s not sure exactly but the more I look into it makes more sense plus feels natural to me❤ maybe one day I’ll be able to visit I know would absolutely fall in love with the culture and feel connected I just know 😅

[@karenfuchs1674]

Karen from Canada .: Thank you so much for this very fascinating information and people . Tusen Takk .

[@karenhumber511]

Excellent. Thank you so much for a delightful 45 minutes.

[@drainmonkeys385]

I’m a 3rd generation American.. I remember my great grandfather who died when I was around 9 or 10 years old. He came here from Finland and my great grandmother was Sami.. I always find this topic very interesting

[@michellestimpson6081]

Thank you for the information. I never heard of Sammi until recently. My great great grandpa was a reindeer herder from sweden. He was Sammi. My family came to Minnesota around 1920, and sadly, we changed our last name and said we were Jewish ☹️. I've always felt lost. To know myself, I'm learning about all my history, basically. Thankfully, my grandpas cousin made a book of our family, and I asked my mom to look if anything said Sammi or Lapland, and it did. I would love to be an alli.

[@liminaljay3311]

I learned so much watching this!! Tusind tak for sharing ♥️💖

[@infinearts7704]

Excellent! Thank you

[@jenniferarnold-delgado3489]

wonderful

[@MsChuckroast]

My grandparents never talked about our heritage. We assumed Norwegian (Larsen) since we knew they left Norway in the late 1800's. I grew up hearing the phrases "Lapp" and "Laplander" but I didn't know what that meant. It all makes so much sense now.

[@leeann4743]

I'm fascinated... as an adopted child I have done some ancestry studies around genealogy but trying to find information about where you come from when you are adopted is a real challenge. Thank you for this information!

[@brennakohlhase4194]

The further back you go the more we’ll all have the same genetics…sounds like the Sami’s (and other nomadic groups) are a more accurate cross section of the human genome. Kind of flies in the face of natural selection-points more to a healthy hardworking people group. This resonated with me! Doing some research before teaching a reindeer Sami-inspired bracelet class. Thank you Troy!

[@shaeurpb]

Thanks, Ancestors from Finland, My family now makes sense to me 🌍

[@mwilks5528]

Being adopted in1968 . My adoption paper work had me as a Italian and Scottish decent . Wrong . Norway Setbakken , Jensen , Olson . We lived in one of the 2 landlocked areas of Norway . Lumberjack back ground . I need a DNA test to find out what my blood line truly is . Unfortunately my biological mother lied on my adoption paper work . All I know is in 1868 Hans Jen Hansen Setbakke came from Oslo on the Christina. Then settled in Minnesota . South Dakota. Need to find out who I'am I have blue eyes dark black now Grey high check bones . When I looked at Sami people I see me . Who knows . One of these days I will be found .

[@bluebonbon22]

I was adopted at age 4, my birth mom lied and said I was Irish. Did DNA and found out I'm 50% Finnish and 38% Norwegian. Most of the areas that my DNA shows is northern areas of Finland and Norway. Through DNA I was able to find 1st cousins but not able to determine which of 5 brothers was my bio father. One brother is my uncle, as are 3 daughters my Aunts. My grandfather and grandmother on paternal side came to America from Finland and settled in northern Wiscon, after a short stay in Michigan,

[@woodswitch23]

Thank you for the informative, and interesting talk> My father's folk were Sami descent from Finland, and it is nice to hear the history from the Sami side.

[@Mamac333]

Hi Troy, thank you for your amazing lecture. I want to find out if my family can become part of the Sami Council too. Our family was partially squashed during the Swedish assimilation and inter married with Tornedalians but I recently found the 6 generations of Great Grand Parents in a row that were forrest and mountain Sami. I want to support the Sami for my generational healing and future generations too. Is there a way I can advice with you in person? Or where could I turn to find out more info on this? I have Sami in my heart and soul which has taken interesting expressions in my life time. I would love to share more in person. Best, Cecilia

[@runeguidanceofthenorse]

Thank you so so much.

[@zurieschwartz4101]

I’m from the US. I’m indigenous to North America and Scandinavians say I look Sami. I am Métis so I’m a descendant of Plains Cree women and French men. I also have Scandinavian ancestors.

[@wendyking9759]

My father is kvaen, and my mother is actually a mixture of possibly scottish, some central Asian as she has the blood type b. I lived in lofoten when I was little. Vestbygda. I didn't meet my dad till he came and found me in arizona where I now live

[@MK-de8wi]

Sami people are from Turkic Uralic Altaic language group of people of of recent Soviet Union like Nenet and Komi. Their culture, language and religion come from the same sources.

[@drainmonkeys385]

So many Americans have no idea about any of this… But I wholeheartedly disagree with the idea that slavery was a product of capitalism and colonialism…. Slavery was the norm across the world Slavery ended with capitalism and colonialism.. it took a while.. but it was the colonial powers and capitalist that ended slavery.

[@hansjacobsen6534]

Thank you! HANS

[@wendyking9759]

I have seen the people of sapa in the northern mountains of Vietnam. Some of their tribes have clothing almost identical to the lapps. The sapa people has han Chinese as well. And are lighter in skin cor than the rest of vietnam

[@suzanneolivar1]

My Great Grand Mother Susanna Randelier of Lapland Finland and Grandmother Edna Randelier spoke Sami. Does anyone have info or photos of my family's clothing of origin?

[@marilynjackson3342]

Have you offered this kind of talk available as a podcast?

[@wendyking9759]

I feel that Hungarians are very close, especially the language. What is also strange is that when I listen to Navajo radio, it sounds si very much like lappish

[@mohrtechgaming1004]

My Great Grandfather moved from Lulea (and said he was Lula Sami) to California. He spoke Sami and taught his Kids to speak it. My father and now I, still call ourselves Sami (although we do not speak it).... I would love to know more on how to get in contact with Lula Sami.

[@slothfromhell3205]

Lule sámi is a language from the are that is in the more northern part of sapmi. I hope you try to learn it my cousin we need to keep out languages alive. May your spirit find home and I appreciate you and your family for continuing to identify as sámi. If you ever want to visit the homeland you are 100% welcome to take in the beauty of sapmi and its nature. This means a lot, way more than you could ever imagine.

[@jrsgarage7623]

I am decendent of Sami Finns full blooded Finn

[@ridgecrestvarietyshow7324]

@@slothfromhell3205 Your title denotes a slow and unusual creature from a horrid place. But your reply is filled with thoughts from a very quick witted, intelligent and caring individual who has seen much beauty in the natural world around him.

[@slothfromhell3205]

@@ridgecrestvarietyshow7324 The duality of man. Much appreciated, thank you!

[@jrsgarage7623]

There is no record of my great great great grandparents going thru elis island under Haataja. Ancestry says we came on another familys ticket. My moms side used an alias and kept it after. His name was John Kahkonen changed to Matson. He was the 1st to own a car in Wadena county.

[@l.golden7872]

Are there significant numbers of Rh- among your culture? I am adopted was told at 18 that i was 3/4 Norwegian, french german.. I think the name Tweet was mentioned. I am 60+ now.

[@abbiedabbiedew4050]

My family came from the finnish /swedish border. I contain a large amount of sami dna but have no way here in Texas to find a kinship. My family just told us we were finnish and will not speak of us being Sami. Like MAJOR denial. I feel lost on how I can learn and find kinship

[@wendyking9759]

Hey, did you know that Rene Zellweger of Katy, tx is half lappish ?

[@yasminnilima2366]

I live in Sweden and have sami/kvendic family in Texas. Feel free to write a sentence or two if you want. I usually ask my mothers cousin if I come across anyone that might be family. She is the genealogy pro in the family.

[@yasminnilima2366]

Alltså, lite coolt ändå du bor både i USA och Norge. I found this very interesting to lissen to. My family comes from Kautokeino, Guovdageainnu. One of my mothers oncles was headhunted to Alaska to teach about reindeerherding. He met a woman and there were children. Therefore the Nilima family, sometimes spelled Niiliimaa or Niilimaa, depending on how the folks pronounsed the name, live in both Scandinavia and US. Meaning nil= påle= stick, i= in, ma=marken=ground. The stick in the ground. As the clothes tell a origin so do the names. 2 brothers were given a piece of land as payment for battling in a war. They put a stick in the ground and a homesettlment was builded. Nilima. If I recall the story right. It is allways interesting to hear how families develop and become what they are. And to hear the family stories. Me myself ended up in the middle of Sweden since my mother, then small child, fled from Hitler in World War 2, over the Mountains into Sweden from Norway. Not much is told in school about this. That the northern part of Norway was emptied of people by Hitler and all cattle killed. To prevent Russia to proseed that way to stop Hitler from further progress. A bit hard to follow the loop of invaders thinking. Well, lot of interesting knowledge you share here!

[@nightingaletarotpsychic]

This was a fascinating video. I learned so much! I was adopted at birth and raised in South Louisiana, but based on Ancestry searches and meticulous family tree building, I’ve uncovered what I believe might be Swedish Sami ancestry. I’ve been learning as much as I can about Sami and am continually fascinated by the history and culture. I even have a trip planned to Abisko, Sweden to experience Sami culture in person. I would love to one day be able to stand up and proudly claim this heritage alongside my Creole upbringing.

[@frankhadleymurphy1326]

A lot of data presented in the Western academic overlay. How about the next video focus on the wisdom teachings of our ancestors and how to connect with those ancestors. Frank Hadley Murphy Saami Cochiti Lake, Cochiti Pueblo Indian Reservation, New Mexico

[@shadetreader]

Do the Basque people of Spain and France count as indigenous?

[@SagisGaming]

My great-great grandmother was a Sami, am I a Sami?

[@eerotarik2567]

My mtdna genes say I am Sami, with thousands of years of evidence in my dna. But the Sami bureaucracy does not recognise Sami like me. It is a sad human trait that those who have been oppressed and dispossessed, do the same to others, and justify it. It doesn't matter. I will continue my walk, alone. The Sami bureaucracy may not accept me, but the spirits know who I am and will guide me.

[@kadenelijah9329]

How did you find this?

[@jrsgarage7623]

I'm pretty sure I'm sami from my dad's side full blooded Finn

[@wendyking9759]

That's not good. Like me, you are in between worlds, not belonging to any

[@wendyking9759]

Just be a cult of personality, dear, and know that ypu are unique. Different is good. You know who you are

[@wendyking9759]

My father has the ab negative blood type

[@Jessinblackandwhite]

Well, shoot. I became very interest in the Sami culture when I found out that my maternal haplogroup is most common among the Sami people. I guess I’m disqualified from learning about my ancestors.

[@hannavirtanen7006]

Akka? And Ukko?

[@MK-de8wi]

Aka is Turkic for father/grandfather

[@hannavirtanen7006]

Seita?

[@jrsgarage7623]

You look like some of my relatives on my mom's side Samuelson's..

[@wendyking9759]

Sapa - sapmi. Hmm

[@hannavirtanen7006]

Kolttasaamelaiset.

[@wendyking9759]

I only know a few lappish words

[@DonnaLHaney]

Word games. Definitions. Ideology. I was hoping for facts, biology...

[@wendyking9759]

Lappish people are super mixed genetically. With at least 17 other ethnic and indigenous groups

[@wendyking9759]

Survivors of ice ages

[@wendyking9759]

I know that the sami has han Chinese dna, and also scythian

[@AdeiaFobia]

Æ trur du glemmer sjamanisme og at Samisk religion var animistisk før det nesten i stor grad ble utryddet i og med misjonen.

[@errormac9]

So, a person of sámi descent isn't sámi at all, for example: if my own father was brought up as sámi in a sámi household in karasjok and I was brought up in America in a non-sámi household, I can't be sámi, I'm an ally and by the way, don't steal your dad's heritage? I don't even know what to say to that other than, sámi culture is mentally ill. Why is it considered cultural appropriation to celebrate and learn about your own heritage if you're a descendant? What if for example, my father wanted to passed down his gákti to me even though I wasn't raised as a sámi? Isn't that still culture appropriation? In my situation, I'm 7 generations removed from my most recent sámi ancestor but I refuse to be called an "ally". And don't call it culture appropriation because someone in the family wants to partake the same culture as their ancestors did.

[@ahkkariq7406]

If your father is Sami, then you are Sami. He will pass on his Sami values ​​and "invisible" traditions to you even if you grow up outside of Sápmi. Read my comment and you will understand my position. I am Sami, and no one can take that away from me. I have rightfully claimed what was mine, and which was stolen from me. Whether my descendants in 7 generations can call themselves Sami, I have more doubts - unless my descendants are conscious of preserving their Sami heritage, preferably by moving back to the Sami areas in Norway that I moved out of. Or by some of them marrying other Sámi, and thus keeping the Sámi heritage intact.

[@DonnaLHaney]

Fascinating subject matter, personal to me, however the pompous delivery apparent here saddens me. Race is, of course, "scientific", awareness of it rose as evidence emerged.

[@ahkkariq7406]

What you experience as pompous communication is probably a result of the harsh policy of Norwegianisation, which over a few generations robbed many of the Norwegian Sami of Sami language, identity and culture. To preserve or take back the Sami and the discussions about who can do it strongly influence the Sami policy pursued in Norway. Therefore, it all becomes a bit artificial. It is nevertheless necessary to prevent the Norwegian Sámi Parliament from being overthrown by people who do not consider themselves Sámi - if that were to happen, we as Samis would be in a bad shape regarding our human rights.

[@hannavirtanen7006]

Why do the Sapmi people always need to justify their existance on the planet Earth?

[@user-pe2lw1ze8i]

I don’t like missionaries or religion