Skolts

The Skolt are a resident of the Finnish, Norwegian and Russian Lapland Sami ethnic group. Their language, Skoltsamische, belongs to the eastern branch of the Sami languages ​​. The number of Skolt is estimated at up to 1000, including about 500 in Finland, 400 in Russia and 100 in Norway. However, only an estimated 300 people in Finland and at most 30 people in Russia speak Skoltsamisch. Most Skolt are Orthodox Christians. Originally Skolt were located mainly on the Kola Peninsula. When Finland ceded the area of Petsamo ( Pechenga ) to the Soviet Union after the Second World War, the resident Skolt were resettled in the municipality of Inari, and mainly settled in the villages Sevettijärvi and Nellim.

History

1809 began a difficult time for the Skolt. In the north the border between Finland and Norway has been fixed, which should have an impact in 1852 is negative for semen: Through a religious dispute in the border region, the borders were closed. This meant that the seeds were partially cut off from their reindeer herds. Food shortage was the result. 1920 had to endure the difficulties re Skolt, as the Finnish-Russian border was moved while the tribal area average insurmountable.