The Sami Culture
Culture is a very important part of Norway and the people that live there, especially for the native people of Norway, the Sami. They have lived in Norway for over two thousand years and have kept their traditions since then. Here are some examples of Sami culture.
Joik
Joik is one of the central parts of Sami culture. Joik is a form of chanting. When a Sami joiks, it’s often about someone or something. They can for example joik about reindeers, nature or another Sami. They don't chant about themselves because it’s often seen as bad and against their traditions.
Kofte
Kofte is a sort of robe that the Sami wear. It’s the traditional outfit for a Sami. The kofte is often mostly made out of reindeer fur and mostly blue and red. It follows traditional patterns. Not every Sami wears a kofte but those who live in the north where the Sami usually live wear them all the time.
Reindeers
Every Sami “tribe” has a reindeer herd. In Sami culture the reindeer is used for absolutely everything. The Sami eat all the parts of the reindeers and use the bones for arrow tips or jewelry and most importantly, the fur is used for clothes, shoes, and for hats.
So, the Sami are still pretty much hunter gatherers, but practice a little bit of agriculture with the reindeers. Even if they live a natural lifestyle, the Sami have still been affected by technology. They use snow scooters to follow and move the reindeers.
- Bastien Champay - Norway
