Saami

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An indigenous people numbering over 60,000 (1996) and living in northern Finland (7,000), Norway (36,000), Sweden (17,000) and Russia (2,000). Traditionally fishermen, hunter-gatherers, and nomadic reindeer herders, the Saami have lost large areas of pasture since 1965 due to forestry, mining and other economic activities. Today many are settled and have entered the professions. Their religion was originally animist, but most Saami now belong either to the Russian Orthodox or Lutheran churches. Their language belongs to the Finno-Ugric group.

The Saami have inhabited the area for thousands of years and recent genetic studies indicate that they are among the oldest people in Europe. As a nomadic people they are not seen to possess land, and although recognized as people with some political rights in all the countries they inhabit, the question of rights to the land, water, and natural resources reamains unresolved.

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