The lands of the Sea Saami

The Sea Saami, who live on the coast and islands of Northern Norway, are a culturally highly distinct group among the Saami peoples. Traditionally they subsisted on fishing, sealing, small-scale animal husbandry, as well as trade with both Norsemen and migrating North Saami reindeer herders. Today the Sea Saami language and cultural heritage are seriously endangered, and in many areas already becoming irrecoverably lost.

Without doubt, the Sea Saami live in one of the geographically most exotic areas in Europe. The vast openness and the rugged beauty of the landscape defy description. That's why I've placed a series of photographs from the lands of the Sea Saami here for viewing. Some of the places photographed still have a living Sea Saami linguistic and cultural heritage, whereas in others like the fjords Deanuvuotna and Báhccavuotna the language has already become lost.

View the photographs