Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin

At the SAHSWI Fika meeting on May 17, 2025, SAHSWI member Michaela Yukus gave an inspiring and very interesting presentation about the Sami people. Sami country – known as Sápmi – stretches across the northern parts of Sweden, Norway and Finland, and Russia’s Kola Peninsula. The Sami are one of the world’s indigenous peoples and one of Sweden’s official national minorities. Michaela’s presentation was packed with facts….

• There are 9 different Sami groups speaking different languages
• The early settlers came to the Sápmi over 10 thousand years ago
• Petroglyphs are Sami carvings dating back 6 thousand years
• Traditionally Samis lived tentlike structures called Lavvu made by sticks and reindeer hides
• Samis eat reindeer meat and cheese soaked in coffee as a treat. (Kaffeost)
• Gakti is the iconic traditional dress of the Sami People.

Find out more about these facts and much, much more in Michaelas speech by pressing on the picture below

At the end of the presentation Michaela played a YouTube video of a traditional Sami Joik by Ellen Molnia (be aware of advertising in YouTube media)