Misc.

 Religion

In the Sami religion, all things, animate and inanimate (trees, rocks, plant life, etc.) have souls.

Their priests/shamans are called *noaidi*. They, like other shamans of other religions acted as a go between for the "material" and spiritual worlds. They would go into a trance to speak to the dead or spirits, using a drum considered magic and chanting called juoigan (yoik). This is the traditional Sami music.

Over time, like many older religions, it was pushed out and the Sami converted to Christianity. Much of this was done through the efforts of "Lars Levi Laestadiusin, a nineteenth-century evangelical Congregationalist."

~8 April 2013
~Elizabet Guidry




Sami Folk Music | "Ancient Forces"
 -18 April 2013
~Elizabeth Guidry



SAMI CREATION MYTH

"The Sami creation myth, directly related to their harsh environment, tells the story of a monstrous giant named Biegolmai, the Wind Man. In the beginning of time, Biegolmai created the Sapmi region by taking two huge shovels, one to whip up the wind and the other to drop such huge amounts of snow that no one could live there. One day, however, one of Biegolmai's shovels broke, the wind died down, and the Sami were able to enter Sapmi"

 http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Norway-to-Russia/Sami.html#ixzz2QqwWFhjb

-18 April 2013
~Elizabeth Guidry



Sami High School Program
Much like the Raza Studies we learned about this semester the Sami people have a similar program. They take standard classes and have opportunities to take classes such as language choice, handicrafts, and social subjects that all have a Sami emphasis.

22 April 2013
Cyd Tyburski