Sami protest in Rovaniemi
Representatives of Sami communities from all over the Barents Region this week gathered in Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland, in a protest against what they see as the tourist industry’s misuse of Sami culture.
The Finnish tourism industry uses Sami culture for all it is worth and with no respect for the real Sami people. That is the opinion of the young Sami representatives gathering in Rovaniemi this week. On Wednesday they manifested their protest with a march in the streets of Rovaniemi.
Lars Miguel Utsi from the Saminuorra Sami youth organisation says to NRK that regional Finnish tourist companies say to tourists that they are representing real Sami culture. However, what they sell and present to the tourists is not made by Sami people and some of it doesn’t even look like Sami products. The young Sami protesters in Rovaniemi have grown tired of the misuse.
– If tourist companies are going to present Sami culture, they have to present something that is real, Mr. Utsi argues.
