Often when people talk about the Sámi, they are referring to all Sámi irrespective of their nationality created from modern history of
migrations and wars that marked national borders. But even discussing the Sámi as one people, there are different types of Sami, depending on their place of birth and how they live. Moreover, their rights and their general situation differ considerably depending on the country in which they presently reside.
In Finland, the Sámi were recognized as
indigenous people in the Finnish
Constitution of 1995. Since then, the Sámi have had the right to maintain and develop their language and culture and their traditional way of life. Under Finnish law, the Sámi have the right to be cared for in their own language in official business, and since 1996, the Sámi have had a constitutional self-government over their language and culture in their varying countries of origin. Approximately 9,000 Sámi currently live in Finland and the most common concerns regarding indigenous rights today in Finland usually revolve around land
rights and
language issues.
The Sámi population in Finland live in, and around, the municipalities of
Enontekiö,
Utsjoki and
Inari, and in the village of Vuotso in the northern part of
Sodankylä municipality. The governmental centre for the Finnish Sámi is Inari, as it is home to the Sámi Parliament, Sámi Radio, Sámi Educational Institute, and the Sámi Culture Centre Sajos.