Sami shamanism

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Stabben: A siedi (worshiped stone) in Balsfjord

The knowledge of the mythology and religious practices of the Sami people is primarily based on archeological remains and written sources from missionary works in northern Scandinavia during the Middle Ages and up to the early 18th c. The religion was a form of shamanism, practiced by the shaman for the most miscellaneous problems. The shaman, termed noaide in the Sami language, had great influence on the people in the village, since he or she was the link between man and gods, spirits and forefathers.

In the landscape throughout Northern Scandinavia, one can find "sieidi"-places, places of ancient worship. Occasionally, one has also found objects. Some objects date back to 800-1300s, and the sites are usually termed "Samic metal depots", due to the large findings of metal objects. The objects are mostly coins from Germany and England, and parts from weapons (e.g. arrow-heads). Some minor findings consist of horn from reindeer.

Tore Johnsen, a Sami Christian priest and leader of the Sami Church Council, giving a sermon at the 2004 "Samiske kirkedager"

The instrument used for ceremonies was the rune drum, but even a domestic flute, the so-called "fadno", was used. The traditional Sami chant, joik, was used in ceremonies where the noaide fell in trance and left his or her body to transcend into the divine world of "saivo", where he or she could negotiate with gods, spirits and forefathers to improve the fate of the group he or she represented.

Males confessed to sacrificial male gods, whereas females confessed to female fertility gods. Sacrifice of animals and metal objects was also included in some religious ceremonies. "White" animals (white reindeer, cows, sheep, etc.) played an important role.

As with other circumpolar religions, the Sami religion contains a hunting ceremony especially for bears, known as the bear cult. We find elements of nordic mythology as well as Christian ideas in the religious practice in the later years of Sami religion.

Sami people in northern Scandinavia today belong to the main Christian churches, though many are now secular or non-religious, as are the majority of people in the Scandinavian countries. During recent years, there has been a movement in some churches to encourage the use of the Sami language and culture in expressing the Christian faith. Official Sami bodies exist today in the Lutheran Church of Sweden and Church of Norway, as well as in the Mission Covenant Church of Sweden.