Norwegian Minorities

Lapplanders

Figure 1.--This portrait of a Norwegiamn Lapp (Sammi) people was taken about 1900. Much of the clothing was home sewn, but the plaid shall must have been purchased. This seems very early for a color photograph, but if it ia colorized image, it is a masterful job. We have not yet identified the photographer.

The best known minority in Norway are the Lapplanders or Sàmi people. Other minorities recohnized by the Norwegian Government include Jews, Kvens (people of Finnish descent living in the North), Roma (Gypsies), Scandinavian Romani, and Skogfins (people of Finnish descent living in the south-east). I am not sure why there does not appear to be a Swedish minority. Norway in recent years because of liberal immigration law has allowed large numbers of foreign immigrants enter the country. The Lapps are are the undigenous Proto-Finno-Saami (Uralic) people migrating west from the east and south-east into what is now Scandanavia (about 6,000 BC). Nearly two-thirds of the Lapps live in Norway. Smaller numbers live in northern Sweden, Finland, and Russia (Kola Peninsula). The rights of the Lapps are enshrined in the Norwegian Constitution and law. Historical studis of the Lapps were until recently limited to culture and linguistics. modern DNA studies have provided important insights challengoing earlier assumtions. Reseachers now believe that two most frequent maternal linages of the Sámi people are the first Homo sapien inhabitants in Europe. They also seem to be descendants of common ancestors with Catalonians and the Basque people, other early inhabitants of Europe (Iberian Peninsula). The most common paternal linage among the Sami are Proto-Finno-Ugric migrants from the south and southwest (Volga-Ural region). The Lapps are commonly associated with reindeer herding. Only a small minority are, however, actually involved with this livlihood. More Lapps are involved with fishing, trapping animals, sheep herding, and other pursuits. Norway had amall Jewish population. The NAZIs after they invaded and occupied Norway during World War II (1940). Much of Norway's small Jewish popuilation was arrested and deported. Many managed to survive, however, as they were accorded special treatment.

Jews

Norway had amall Jewish population. The NAZIs after they invaded and occupied Norway during World War II (1940). Much of Norway's small Jewish popuilation was arrested and deported. Many managed to survive, however, as they were accorded special treatment.

Kvens/Skogfins

The Kven/Skogfins are people of Finnish descent living in the far north.

Lappanders/Sámi

The best known minority in Norway are the Lapplanders or Sàmi people. The Lapps are are the undigenous Proto-Finno-Saami (Uralic) people migrating west from the east and south-east into what is now Scandanavia (about 6,000 BC). Nearly two-thirds of the Lapps live in Norway. Smaller numbers live in northern Sweden, Finland, and Russia (Kola Peninsula)--an area above the Arctic Circle often referred to as Lapland. While the Laplanders have their own language and dstinctive culture, Lapland is not a nation. They are a gentle people, in sharp contrast to the Germanic Tribes that drove them north. The rights of the Lapps are enshrined in the Norwegian Constitution and law. Historical studis of the Lapps were until recently limited to cultural and linguistic studies. Modern DNA studies have provided important insights challenging earlier assumtions. Reseachers now believe that two most frequent maternal linages of the Sámi people are the first Homo sapien inhabitants of neolithic Europe. They also seem to be descendants of common ancestors with Catalonians and the Basque people, other early inhabitants of Europe (Iberian Peninsula). In modern terms they are most closely related to the Finns. The most common paternal linage among the Sámi are Proto-Finno-Ugric migrants from the south and southwest (Volga-Ural region). The Lapps are commonly associated with reindeer herding. Only a small minority are, however, actually involved with this livlihood. More Lapps are involved with fishing, trapping animals, sheep herding, and other pursuits.

Muslims

Norway in recent years because of liberal immigration law has allowed large numbers of foreign immigrants enter the country. This has included many Muslim refugees.

Roma (Gypsies)


Swedes

We are am not sure why there does not appear to be a Swedish minority. Unlike Finland, Sweeden and Norway share a long birder. (The border withFinland is shorter and in the orth where fewwer people live. Sewden govern Norway for many years and are of the same ethnic German stock.







HBC





Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossary] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]



Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing national pages:
[Return to the Main Norwegian page]
[Return to the Main countries page]
[Australia] [Belgium] [England] [France] [Germany] [Ireland] [Italy] [Japan] [Korea]
[Mexico] [New Zealand] [Scotland] [United States]




Created: 8:41 PM 12/2/2008
Last updated: 3:29 AM 11/29/2015