The Sámi Peoples of the North: A Social and Cultural History

by Neil Kent

There is no single volume that encompasses an integrated social and cultural history of the Sámi people from the Nordic countries and northwestern Russia. Neil Kent's book fills this lacuna. In the first instance, he considers how the Sámi homeland is defined: its geography, climate, and early contact with other peoples. He then moves on to its early chronicles and the onset of colonisation, which changed Sámi life profoundly over the last millennium. Thereafter, the nature of Sámi ethnicity is examined, in the context of the peoples among whom the Sámi increasingly lived, as well as the growing intrusions of the states who claimed sovereignty over them. The Soviet gulag, the Lapland War and increasing urbanisation all impacted upon Sámi life. Religion, too, played an important role from pre-historic times, with their pantheon of gods and sacred sites, to their Christianisation. In the late twentieth century there has been an increasing symbiosis of ancient Sámi spiritual practice with Christianity. Recently the intrusions of the logging and nuclear industries, as well as tourism have come to redefine Sámi society and culture. Even the meaning of who exactly is a Sámi is scrutinised, at a time when some intermarry and yet return to Sámi, where their children maintain their Sámi identity.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Indigenous, Anthropology, Indigenous History

331 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Logan Streondj · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the dullest most clinical expositions of an indigenous group I've ever read. Barely learn anything about the Sami except that they were peaceful reindeer herders with a Finno Ugric language and shamanic practices that included the use of a drum. And that they have been marginalized by Christo-Nordics for a thousand years or so, via killing, by economic means, by propoganda, and attempts at assimilation.

Mentioned they dwelt in tents or small stick dwellings, not much more info than that. Otherwise it talked mostly about how the Christo Nordics oppressed them in various ways.

Honestly I'd be more interested in knowing the details of the reindeer herding, or their shamanism, or some other details about them exclusively and not in relation to Christo Nordic oppression.

[Michael Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting work, although it seems to me more intended for the academic rather than the general reader. The author, who is fluent in the Nordic languages, has combed through primary source materials and uses them to outline the history of the Sami lands and peoples. As a layperson, I am not qualified to comment on the scholarship, but it would seem to me to be a valuable catalog of information that may not be easily available to those of us who do not speak Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, or any of the various Sami languages. As an introduction to Sami culture and history, however, I frequently found myself getting lost in the level of detail provided.

[Evar Kristoffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides a comprehensive English history of the Sámi.
At times repetitive, it provide the most fundamental parts of my ancestors’ history.

I greatly recommend the book to English-speakers who otherwise cannot read nor understand any of the Sámi language or any of the nordic languages. If you can understand any of the nordic languages; there are probably 10 better books to be read.

One thing I miss is thorough scrutiny
of the sources used. A problem similar to that of Edward Said’s orientalism has haunted descriptions of the Sámi for a long time - especially in regards to religion and spiritual beliefs. In reality, most of the opinions and understanding of the Christian missionaries and vikings were flawed and mistepresents the pre-christian beliefs. Another note is that «shamaism» is inadequate to explain the Noaidi, a better name would probably be «ritual-makers». Shaman/Shamanism carries many connotations which are wrong.

[Nick Sorrentino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative not the most readable but if you're looking for an anthropological history I doubt there is a better version written in English