THE SAMI
The Saami
The Saami (Lapps) are known as the people of the sun and the wind. They are a nomadic people of northern Scandinavia and are reindeer herders. Saami ethnic heritage, language, traditional clothing, and handicrafts are distinct from other cultures in Norway, Sweden, Finland or Russia.
Saami Art
The Saami traditionally decorated their tools, clothing and other items of daily life. Clothing was made of reindeer skins and felted wool. Clothing edges were decorated with colorful bandweaving and woven belts.
Sámi Woman
Photo of a Saami woman wearing traditional dress.
Sami of the Kola Peninsula
Saami Traditional Arts
Program notes are available on-line for a presentation made by Artist Anna-Stina Svakko, visiting the Bay Area from Porjus, a traditional Saami village in northern Sweden.
Varanger Saami Museum
A Norwegian museum exhibits Saami Duojdi handicrafts.
Arctic Norway
A cultural excursion to Norway to visit Saami ‘grene’ weavers. folk museums and travel by riverboats past scenic waterfalls and fjords.
Saami History
Archaeologists have linked the oldest Scandinavian stone age culture, the Komsa to the ancestors of the Saami. Ghengis Khan wrote that the Saami were a nation he would not try to fight again. They didn’t believe in war but were peaceful retreaters and disappeared in times of conflict. They moved their homes and reindeer and adapted to their new natural surroundings.
Saami Blog
A great blog with photos of Skolt Saami weaving – grene.
Sami Weaving – You Tube
First the edge is woven on a rigid heddle loom and then the warp is attached to an upright warp weighted loom.
ORIGINAL FILE DATE: JUL 6, 2011
Categories: BAND WEAVING
