Norway: The Sami

The main occupation of all Saami people is reindeer herding, an animal which provides the Saami with material for clothes, bones for handicrafts, and reeinder meat, an important part of their diet. This mammal is so important to the life of the Saami that there are over 400 words in their language for reindeer. Though life in these cold climates is hard, the Saami have time to do fun things too! There are many festivals that celebrate the culture, and the Saami are known for their traditional joiks, a slow song sung a cappella that is full of emotion. Though the Saami culture is now protected in Norway, there are some countries where the Saami are still discriminated against.