Norway
March 6, 2026
If you ask most travelers about the Nordics, they’ll probably mention Vikings, fjords, saunas or that one Scandinavian crime series where it’s always raining and someone is always sad.
But long before the Vikings discovered helmets, beards and overseas real estate opportunities, the far north was already home to its original residents: the Sami.
And unlike the Vikings, they didn’t need longships to survive. They just needed reindeer, warm clothing, and a deep understanding of how to live in a place where winter lasts nine months and the sun sometimes just… disappears.
The Nordics’ First Residents
The Sami have lived in the northern parts of Scandinavia for thousands of years – long before Norway, Sweden and Finland became countries, and definitely before Denmark decided it was in charge of everything for a while.
Their homeland is called Sápmi, a cultural region stretching across northern Norway, northern Sweden, northern Finland, and Russia’s Kola Peninsula. Back then, there were no borders, no passports, and no customs officers asking if your reindeer had anything to declare.
You can read a general historical overview of the Sami at
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sami
Life Before the Vikings Started Trending
While the Vikings were still perfecting the art of raiding monasteries and discovering places with better weather, the Sami were already moving across Arctic landscapes, following seasonal rhythms and developing deep knowledge of snow, animals and survival.
Their culture was closely tied to nature. Mountains, rivers, animals and weather weren’t just scenery – they were part of everyday life and spiritual beliefs. While southern Scandinavia was busy inventing kingdoms, the Sami were busy mastering survival in the Arctic.
Then Came the Kingdoms (and the Taxes)
Eventually, the Nordic kingdoms looked north and thought,
“Nice land. Shame if someone… taxed it.”
From the Middle Ages onward, Sami communities found themselves taxed by Norway, taxed by Sweden, sometimes taxed by Russia and occasionally all at once. Which is impressive, considering many of them lived hundreds of kilometers from the nearest castle.
The Era of “Please Stop Being Sami”
In the 1800s and early 1900s, the Nordic states decided the Sami would be much more convenient if they simply stopped being Sami.
Assimilation policies banned Sami languages in schools, forced children into boarding schools, took traditional lands, and promoted the idea that Sami culture was backward. In Norway, this period was even called Norwegianization, which sounds like a cozy cultural exchange but was actually a serious attempt to erase Sami identity.
The Sami Fight Back (Politely, But Firmly)
The Sami didn’t disappear. Instead, they organized.
In 1917, Sami representatives gathered in Trondheim for the first Sami congress – the event now commemorated by Sami National Day on February 6. Cultural movements grew, political organizations formed and Sami artists and activists gained international attention.
Then came the Alta conflict in the late 1970s, when protests against a dam project on Sami land forced the Norwegian government – and the world – to pay attention.
For a look at modern Sami political institutions, see the Swedish Sami Parliament:
https://www.sametinget.se
From Protest to Parliament
The result was real political change. Today, there are Sami parliaments in Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Sami languages are being revived, cultural traditions are celebrated and Sami voices are increasingly visible in everything from politics to pop music.
So… Who Are the Sami Today?
Modern Sami life is a blend of tradition and contemporary culture.
Some still work with reindeer herding, fishing and handicrafts, while others are lawyers, artists, tech workers, politicians and professors. Many are all of the above – just with better winter clothing.
Why Lapland Is One of the World’s Most Authentic Winter Experiences
Here’s the part most travelers don’t realize: Lapland isn’t just snow and Santa. It’s the cultural heartland of the Sami and one of the last places in Europe where traditional Arctic lifestyles still shape everyday life. This is where winter isn’t a season – it’s a way of living.
In Lapland, the experience is quiet, vast and deeply connected to nature. You travel across frozen forests, follow reindeer tracks through silent valleys, sit inside warm tents while stories are told over open fires, and watch the northern lights flicker above landscapes that feel almost untouched by time.
It’s not a theme park version of winter. It’s the real thing.
At Best of Nordic, we arrange journeys to Lapland throughout the season – from intimate cultural stays to high-end incentive programs in the Arctic. Through our local network, guests meet real Sami hosts, experience authentic traditions and explore the far north in a way that feels personal, respectful and unforgettable.
For more insight on Sami culture, read about the Sami National Costume with a hidden code, the Gákti or the Sami Joik, one of the oldest surviving musical traditions in Europe.
Because anyone can book a snowy hotel.
But experiencing Lapland through the people who have lived there for thousands of years – that’s something else entirely.
Contact us for more information.
