The National Museum donates an important Sámi collection to the Sámi Museum Siida

The Sámi collection of the National Museum has been accumulating since the 1830s. In the 1800s, accumulation was occasional, and a vast majority of the artefacts were acquired during collection trips made in 1902–1939. The most important collectors were T. I. Itkonen, Theodor Schvindt, Ilmari Manninen and Samuli Paulaharju. Artefacts were actively collected again from the 1970s to the 1990s; by this time, the guidelines of collection had already changed. In the Sámi area, the aim was no longer to collect old objects that were invaluable for Sámi culture, but to concentrate on new handicrafts which had been crafted according to old traditions. The National Museum was responsible for the keeping and documentation of the Sámi artefacts until 1998 when Siida was opened.

The National Museum’s Sámi collection comprises approximately 2,600 artefacts, including the oldest Sámi objects found in Finland. In terms of numbers, the largest group consists of clothes and parts of clothes, household objects and equipment meant for transportation and the making of textiles. Almost a half of the artefacts have been collected from the regions of Inari and Petsamo. The big proportion of Skolt Sámi objects makes the collection especially valuable and rare from an international point of view, too.

The National Museum and Siida will in future engage in close co-operation in order to present and document Sámi culture, and the National Museum will go on introducing the public to Sámi history and cultural heritage through its exhibitions after the collection transfer, too.

The collection will be transferred to Siida in connection with the expansion of the museum, which will hopefully be completed in the early 2020s. In addition to modern collection facilities, the expansion will bring the Sámi Museum communal multipurpose facilities; this will enable the museum to present and examine collections interactively with the community. Through the study of artefacts, it will be possible to revive old Sámi crafting traditions and techniques, the Sámi knowledge of materials and words dealing with the crafting and use of objects.

The first artefacts that will be transferred from the National Museum will be at display as early as April 2018 when Siida will launch an exhibition on Johan (Juhani) Nuorgam, the founder of the museum. The Sámi Museum Siida will celebrate its 20^th anniversary on 1 April 2018.

Further information:

Elina Anttila, Director General, National Museum of Finland, elina.anttila@kansallismuseo.fi, tel. +358 295 33 6131

Sari Valkonen, Museum Director, Sámi Museum Siida, sari.valkonen@samimuseum.fi, tel. +358 40 767 1052