ForestSámiSummerExpo2026

This year ForestSámiSummerExpo was in Sodankylä, Finland. That was actually today. We had a long day because this year we made a day-trip there.

It was a long but happy and empowering day at the expo that gathers together ForestSámi people and the politicians and activists who do a hard work to make the difference what comes to the legislation and funding. On this picture you can see 2 of them: Sara Seppänen and Kari Kyrö. 

ForestSámi face discrimination in Finland. You can read more about the problems here. We still have no funding, neither any kind of plan from the authorities to support our culture in any way. Still, we have gain many breakthrough just on our own. It doesn't mean we don't need support. We do need very hard. People do all this volunteer work on their free time meanwhile other Sámi groups in Finland are financially supported.

Our culture has always been there. We just have not been showing it because of the discrimination. We can't be silent anymore. Today we show it more open. Like this special men's brooch of my friend. He made it himself. You can find on the brooch the symbol of the sun. You can spot also other dots on the brooch which are not connected to the sun figure. Actually this brooch -without the sun- is his reindeer ear mark. By that he fastens his ForestSámi costume. And by his permission I can show it to you today.💙