Portraits of Indigenous Peoples - Sámi

A portrait of Aili Keskitalo (Biehttár-Heaikka Elle Máreha Áili) from the Sámi people.

The homeland of the Sámi Peoples is Sápmi, which stretches over the state territories of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The current known population is estimated between 60,000 to 100,000 people. Aili is from the Guovdageaidnu/Kautokeino (a community on the Norwegian side of Sápmi). She is wearing a Gákti that also could be found in the neighboring community on the Finnish side of the border, in Eanodat/Enontekiö. Her gákti includes gahpir (cap), boagán (belt), liidni (silk shawl), veasku (purse), risku/riskkut (silver brooch/brooches). This version of gákti is semi-formal, and made from a light wool fabric, and decorated with patterned ribbons. A Sámi would be able to identify her home community by the decorations on her cap, cuffs and hem, as they differ according to origin and sometimes family. The silver is for decoration, for investing in wealth and for protection against evil. The cap is kept in place with silver hairclips. The násttit (square buttons) on the belt indicates that she is a married woman (in her community unmarried women would wear boalut (round buttons).