THE SAMI PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRIES OF NORTHERN EUROPE

The paper deals with the history of the Sami people. The Sámi are settled
in the north of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The research targeted at
Sámi people’s study is conducted in all the Nordic countries at the present time.
The first mention of the Sami people refers to the XVI century. There are
different theories about the origin and settlement of the Sami. On the basis of
the Sami people detailed study it can be argued, that the Sámi are one of the
oldest nations in Europe. This nation has all the rights to defend its primordial
territories as the indigenous people of Northern Europe.