The heritage of Sodankylä’s reindeer family can be seen in the outfit that MP Sara Seppänen plans to wear to Linna’s party. The outfit is the outfit of the forest Sámi, and it can evoke emotions.
The suit is a model made for women from an old men’s lapin jacket from Sodankylä. Akke Virtanen
Lapland MP Sara Seppänen (ps) dresses in a forest Sámi costume made for her for the Linna celebration on Independence Day.
The suit is a women’s model of an old men’s lapincoat from Sodankylä, which belonged to his grandfather.
– This is important to me, as it shows my family background. And the Forest Sámi in general. This was made based on the costume of my priest in Sodankylä Kiering, Seppänen says about the costume.
On Some, Seppänen’s outfit has already received two responses. First, it has been highly praised:
– This is Linna’s most beautiful outfit!
– You are gorgeous and your outfit is lovely.
– Go through the back door, and there will be no word at all.
Others have accused Seppä of cultural appropriation:
– Sámi clothing belongs only to the Sámi. Others shouldn’t take it like that just for their own use, not even for Linna’s parties. If we do that, it is about cultural appropriation.
– Clothing does not make anyone a Sámi, no matter how much you want it to be.
The comments are based on a different view of who can say they are Sámi and thus wear Sámi clothing. More information about this can be found in the fact box below.
Family roots to the 16th century
Seppänen says that the concern about cultural appropriation is unfounded.
– I do know my background, and I wouldn’t have put on the suit without it. My grandfather was a reindeer herder in Sodankylä, just like the generations before him, he says to critics.
– According to the church records, my family roots from Metsälappa extend to Kittilä and Sodankylä all the way back to the 16th century.
According to Seppänen, the dress of the Metsä Sámi people is more modest compared to some northern Sámi dresses. Akke Virtanen
Such an outfit is
According to Seppänen, the dress of the Forest Sámi is more modest and casual compared to some northern Sámi dresses.
– A silk scarf is not part of this, since there have been no silkworm larvae in Lapland. If there was a scarf, it was wool. The color of the suit is dark, almost black. It has a lot in common with the costume of the Inari Sámi, he describes the outfit.
The outfit is made by me Sinikka Säkkinen.
– Unfortunately, my great-grandmothers’ costumes has not survived. They have been lost during the war.
The costume’s cap and bag are on loan from the Forest Sami museum in Salla. The bag is made of reindeer skin and reindeer bone. Both of these have been found in the Sodankylä area.
– I have to hold it carefully and it is of course a valuable thing that I can carry it.
Seppäsen has a clear message for those who comment on social media forums that the Metsä Sámi are not “real” Sámi.
– I welcome them to the Forest Sámi Days to hear what the historical background or the background of the language is. It is important to remember that Forest Sámi is not away from anyone, and it is not against anyone, he reminds.
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The Sámi people in Finland
About 10,000 Sami people live in Finland. The Sámi’s home region includes the municipalities of Enontekiö, Inari and Utsjoki, and the northern part of the municipality of Sodankylä, i.e. the area of Lapland’s paliskunnta. However, more than 60 percent of the Sámi live outside the Sámi’s home region.
In total, there are about 75,000-100,000 Sami people, depending on the way of counting. The Sámi people have inhabited the northern part of Norway, Sweden and Finland and the interior of the Kola Peninsula even before the current state borders were formed. This region is called Saamenmaa (Sápmi in Northern Sámi, Säämi in Inari Sámi and Sääʹmm in Koltan Sámi).
Forest Sámi people
Metsä Sámi people say that their roots are in the area of the former Lapland of Kemi. Kemi’s Lapland included nine Sami-inhabited Lapland or Siida, which were: Inari, Keminkylä, Kitka, Kittilä, Kuolajärvi, Maanselkä, Peltojärvi, Sodankylä and Sompio. They have been living in the Lapinkylie region at least since the 16th century.
Dispute
The Sámi assemblies do not recognize the Forest Sámi as part of the Sámi community. In the Sámi assembly elections, those whose mother tongue is Sámi or who have at least one great-grandparent whose mother tongue is Sámi can vote and run for office.
Sources: Yle.fi, Sámi assemblies, Forest Sámi people