Skip to main content

Nomadic Narratives of Sámi People’s Migration in Historic and Modern Times

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Human Migration in the Arctic

Abstract

This chapter discusses the experiences of Sámi people (N = 10) regarding migration to the Arctic region in Finland. In general, indigenous people tend to move to towns. Likewise, the Sámis had already started to move to towns in the southern areas of Finland before the 1960s. Migration to urban centers was increasing in line with worldwide trends, and the overall trend in Finland affected all areas and inhabitants in the country. Currently, 75% of Sámi children live outside the Sámi core areas in Finland, while most of the elders live in the core Sámi areas. This phenomenon creates new challenges for education. This chapter aims to find out what the Sámi themselves think about migration. This study contributes to the international interest in describing indigenous people’s migration in the modern age and, in their narratives, Sámi people highlight nomadic views of migration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Äärelä, R. (2016). Dat ii leat dušše dat giella [Se ei ole vain se kieli]. Tapaustutkimus saamenkielisestä kielipesästä saamelaisessa varhaiskasvatuksessa [It’s not just a language. Case study of Sámi language nest in Sámi early childhood education]. Acta Universitatis Lapponiensis 335. Rovaniemi: Lapland University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahokas, L. (2013, April 6). Nilla Keva oli paljon muutakin kuin opettaja [Nilla Keva was much more than a teacher]. Akaan Seutu. Retrieved from: https://akaanseutu.fi/2013/04/06/nilla-keva-oli-paljon-muutakin-kuin-opettaja/.

  • Aikio, A. (2012). An essay on Saami ethnolinguistic prehistory. In R. Grünthal & P. Kallio (Eds.), A linguistic map of prehistoric Northern Europe (pp. 63–117). Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Toimituksia - Mémoires de la Société Finno-Ougrienne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aikio, N. (2000). Liekkejä pakoon – saamelaiset evakossa 1944–1945 [Escaping flames—Sámi in evacuation 1944–45]. Helsinki: SKS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aikio, S. (1966, November 29). Piirteitä Pedar Jalvin kirjallisesta tuotannosta [Features of Pedar Jalvi’s written production]. Lapin Kansa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aikio-Puoskari, U. (2007). Saamelaisopetus osana suomalaista peruskoulua – kielenvaihdon vai revitalisaation edistäjä? [Sámi education as a part of Finnish basic education—Promoter of language change or revitalization?] In Sámit, sánit, sátnehámit. Riepmočála Pekka Sammallahtii miessemánu 21. Beaivve 2007 (pp. 73–84). Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Toimituksia - Mémoires de la Société Finno-Ougrienne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anttonen, M. (1999). Etnopolitiikkaa Ruijassa. Suomalaislähtöisen väestön identiteettien politisoituminen 1990-luvulla [Ethnic policy in Finnmark: The politicization of the identity of a Finnish-based population in the 1990s]. Helsinki: SKS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balto, A., & Østmo, L. (2012). Multicultural studies from a Sámi perspective: Bridging traditions and challenges in an indigenous setting. Issues in Educational Research, 22(1), 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Battiste, M. (2000). Maintaining aboriginal identity, language, and culture in modern society. In M. Battiste (Ed.), Reclaiming indigenous voice and vision (pp. 192–208). Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blindh, I. B. (1979). Samer i Stockholm: En undersökning om utflyttade samers kulturella behov [The Sámi in Stockholm: Research about migrated Sámi people’s cultural needs]. Dieđut nr. 1. Guovdageaidnu: Sámi Instituhtta.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brattrein, H. D., & Niemi, E. (1994). Inn i riket [In a country]. In E. A. Drivenes, M. A. Hauan, & H. A. Wold (Eds.), Politisk og økonomisk integrasjoen gjennom tusen år. Nord-Norsk kulturhistorie 1 (pp. 146–209). Oslo: Gyldendal norsk forlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaichian, M. (2014). Empires and walls: Globalisation, migration, and colonial control. Leiden: Brill.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, B. (2016). Intersectionality. In L. Disch & M. Hawkesworth (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of feminist theory (pp. 1–25). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199328581.013.20.

  • Dankertsen, A. (2006). “Men du kan jo snakke frognerSámisk!Tradisjon og kulturell innovasjon blant samer i Oslo [“But you can talk frognerSámi!” Tradition and cultural innovation among the Sami people in Oslo] (Masters thesis). Institute of Social Anthropology, Oslo University.

    Google Scholar 

  • de los Reyes, P., Molina, I., & Mulinari, D. (2005). Intersektionalitet: Kritiska reflektioner över (o)jämlikhetens landskap [Intersectionality: Critical reflections about the landscape of (in)equality]. Malmö: Liber.

    Google Scholar 

  • Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2008). Handbook of critical and indigenous methodologies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Eidheim, H. (1997). Ethno-political development among the Sami after World War II. In H. Gaski (Ed.), The invention of selfhood: Sámi culture in a new era (pp. 29–61). Kárášjohka: Davvi Girji.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giddens, A. (1997). Sociology. Cambridge: Polity Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Granqvist, K. (2006). Confrontation and conciliation: The Sami, the crown and the court in seventeenth-century Swedish Lapland. A Nordic Journal of Cicumpolar Societies, 21(2), 99–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/08003830410009130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gröndahl, S. (2010). Erilaisuuden kokemuksesta moniarvoisuuteen: Romanien ja matkaajien kirjallisuus Pohjoismaissa [From diversity to experience of pluralism: Literature of roamers and travelers in Scandinavia]. In E. Rantonen (Ed.), Vähemmistöt ja monikulttuurisuus kirjallisuudessa [Minorities and multiculturalism in literature] (pp. 106–131). Tampere: Tampere University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guttorm, H. (2018). Flying beyond: Diverse Sáminesses and be(com)ing Sámi. Reconceptualizing Educational Research Methodology, 9(1), 43–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hakkarainen, M.-L. (2010). Istanbulin ja Berliinin välillä. Kulttuurisen identiteetin muodonmuutoksia turkkilais-saksalaisessa kirjallisuudessa [Between Istanbul and Berlin. Deformations of cultural identity in Turkish-German literature]. In E. Rantonen (Ed.), Vähemmistöt ja monikulttuurisuus kirjallisuudessa [Minorities and multiculturalism in literature] (pp. 220–245). Tampere: Tampere University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hancock, A.-M. (2016). Intersectionality: An intellectual history. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Heikkinen, H. (2003). Sopeutumisen mallit. Poronhoidon adaptaatio jälkiteolliseen toimintaympäristöön Suomen läntisellä poronhoitoalueella [Models of adaption post-industrial society in Western reindeer herding district in Finland]. Helsinki: SKS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirshberg, D., & Petrov, A. N. (2014). Education and human capital. In Arctic human development report: Regional processes and global linkages (pp. 349–399). Copenhagen: Nordic Council of Ministers. Retrieved from: http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:788965/FULLTEXT03.pdf.

  • Hirvonen, V. (2010). Saamelainen kirjallisuus ja pohjoinen ulottuvuus [Sámi literature and the northern dimension]. In E. Rantonen (Ed.), Vähemmistöt ja monikulttuurisuus kirjallisuudessa [Minorities and multiculturalism in literature] (pp. 71–105). Tampere: Tampere University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hovland, A. (1996). Moderne urfolk. Samisk ungdom i bevelse [Modern indigenous people. Sami youth in conception]. Oslo: Cappelen akademisk forlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyvärinen, M. (2006). Kertomuksen tutkimus [Researching narratives]. Tampere: University of Tampere. Retrieved from: http://www.uta.fi/yky/yhteystiedot/henkilokunta/mattikhyvarinen/index/Kerronnallinen%20tutkimus.pdf.

  • International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry. (2018). Sámi & Finns. Retrieved from: http://reindeerherding.org/herders/sami-finns-finland/.

  • Keskitalo, P., & Sarivaara, E. (2016). The definition and task of mediating Sámi research. In S. Uusiautti & K. Määttä (Eds.), The basics of caring research (pp. 119–133). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Keskitalo, P., Lehtola, V.-P., & Paksuniemi, M. (Eds.). (2014). Saamelaisten kansanopetuksen ja koulunkäynnin historia Suomessa [The Sámi education history in Finland]. Turku: Migration Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korkiasaari, J., & Tarkiainen, K. (2000). Suomalaiset Ruotsissa [Finns in Sweden]. Turku: Migration Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kortesalmi, J. (2008). Poronhoidon synty ja kehitys Suomessa [Reindeer herding and its development in Finland]. Helsinki: SKS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lähteenmäki, M. (2014). Northern border regions on focus. Nordia Geographical Publications, 43(1), 1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Latomaa, S. (2010). “Hänellä ei ole kieltä missä hän voisi elää” − kirjallisuus kielipolitiikan ilmentäjänä [“He has no language where he could live”—Literature as an expression of language policy]. In E. Rantonen (Ed.), Vähemmistöt ja monikulttuurisuus kirjallisuudessa [Minorities and multiculturalism in literature] (pp. 40−68). Tampere: Tampere University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehtola, V.-P. (2005). The Sámi people: Traditions in transition. Fairbanks: University of Alaska Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindgren, A.-R. (2000). Helsingin saamelaiset ja oma kieli [The Sámi in Helsinki and their own language]. Helsinki: SKS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linkola, M. (Ed.). (1967). Entinen Kemijoki [Former Kemi River]. Helsinki: Weilin+Göös.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miettunen, K.-M. (2010). Muistelu historiakuvien rakentajana [Memories constructing pictures from history]. Tieteessä tapahtuu, 2, 12–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, G. (2006). Unsettled places: Aboriginal people and urbanisation in New South Wales. Adelaide: Wakefield Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordic Council of Ministers. (2014). Arctic human development report. Copenhagen: Nordic Council of Ministers. Retrieved from: http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:788965/FULLTEXT03.pdf.

  • Nystad, I. M. K. (2003). Mannen mellom myte og modernitet [Man between myth and modernity]. Nesbru: Vett & Viten.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsén, L., Heinämäki, L., & Harkoma, A. (2017). Vähemmistöjen sisäisten vähemmistöjen ihmisoikeudet ja moniperustainen syrjintä: saamelaiset vammaiset henkilöt ja seksuaali- ja sukupuolivähemmistöt [Human rights and multiple discrimination against minority minorities: Sámi disabled people and sexual and gender minorities]. Rovaniemi: University of Lapland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paksuniemi, M., & Keskitalo, P. (2018, in press). Hidden stories about caring power towards children at Riutula Children’s Home. Nordic Journal of Education History.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrov, A., & Vlasova, T. (2010). Migration and socio-economic well-being in the Russian North: Interrelations, regional differentiation, recent trends and emerging issues In L. Huskey & C. Southcott (Eds.), Migration in the circumpolar north: New concepts and patterns (pp. 163–192). Edmonton: CCI Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poelzer, G., & Wilson, G. N. (2014). Governance in the arctic: Political systems and geopolitics. In Arctic human development report: Regional processes and global linkages (pp. 185–222). http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:788965/fulltext03.pdf.

  • Rahko-Ravantti, R. (2016). Saamelaisopetus Suomessa: tutkimus saamelaisopettajien opetustyöstä suomalaiskouluissa [Sámi teaching in Finland: Research about Sámi teachers’ work at Finnish schools]. Rovaniemi: Lapland University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rantonen, E. (2010). Maahanmuuttajat ja kirjallisuus Suomessa ja Ruotsissa [Immigrants and literature in Finland and Sweden]. In E. Rantonen (Ed.), Vähemmistöt ja monikulttuurisuus kirjallisuudessa [Minorities and multiculturalism in literature] (pp. 163–191). Tampere: Tampere University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rantonen, E., & Savolainen, M. (2010). Vähemmistöt ja monikulttuurisuus – kulttuurit ja kirjallisuudet rinnakkain, vastakkain ja vuorovaikutuksessa [Minorities and multiculturalism—Cultures and literatures side by side, confronted and in interaction]. In E. Rantonen (Ed.), Vähemmistöt ja monikulttuurisuus kirjallisuudessa [Minorities and multiculturalism in literature] (pp. 9–39). Tampere: Tampere University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rautio, A., Poppel, B., & Young, K. (2014). Human health and well-being. In J. Nymand & G. Fondahl (Eds.), Arctic human development report: Regional processes and global linkages (pp. 299–348). Copenhagen: Nordic Council of Ministers. Retrieved from: http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:788965/FULLTEXT03.pdf.

  • Sámi Parliament. (2006). Saamelaisten kestävän kehityksen ohjelma 2006 [Program for sustainable development of the Sámi people]. Inari: Saamelaiskäräjät.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, D. (1999). Indigenous people: Issues of definition. International Journal of Cultural Property, 8, 4–13. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0940739199770591.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seurujärvi-Kari, I. (2011). “We are no longer prepared to be silent”. The making of Sámi indigenous identity in an international context. Suomen antropologi, 35(4), 5–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seurujärvi-Kari, I. (2014). Saamentutkimus [Sámi research]. Encyclopaedia of Saami Culture. University of Helsinki. Retrieved from: http://senc.hum.helsinki.fi/wiki/Saamentutkimus.

  • Squire, C., Andrews, M., & Tamboukou, M. (2013). Introduction. What is narrative research? In M. Andrews, C. Squire, & M. Tamboukou (Eds.), Doing narrative research (pp. 1–26). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Statistics Finland. (2018). Population. Helsinki: Statistcs Finland. Retrieved from: http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html.

  • Trujano, C. Y. A. (2008). Indigenous routes: A framework for understanding indigenous migration. Geneva: International Organization for Migration.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations. (2008). Urban indigenous people and migration. Retrieved from: http://www.un.org/en/events/indigenousday/pdf/factsheet_migration_final.pdf.

  • Voswinkel, S. (2012). Survey of Yukon’s knowledge sector: Results and recommendations. Yukon: Ylynx Management Consulting, Inc. and Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahlbeck, Ö. R. (2016). True Finns and non-true Finns: The minority rights discourse of populist politics in Finland. Journal of Intercultural Studies: An International Journal, 37(6), 574–588.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Keskitalo, P. (2019). Nomadic Narratives of Sámi People’s Migration in Historic and Modern Times. In: Uusiautti, S., Yeasmin, N. (eds) Human Migration in the Arctic. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6561-4_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6561-4_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-6560-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-6561-4

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics