A project to promote minorities, the Skolt Sámi - a minority among the Sámi

The project in Verkhnetulomsky and Tuloma was part of a larger three-part Peacepainting project funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This project was created to lift and strengthen the Skolt Sámi, an important minority among the Sámi minority in Russia, Finland and Norway.

The Skolt Sámi are considered to be the indigenous people of the borderland area between present-day Russia, Finland and Norway, i.e. on the Kola Peninsula.

There are today considered to be around 1250 Skolt Sámi, of which approximately 400 can speak the Skolt Sámi language.

The Skolt Sámi were divided when national borders were drawn on the Kola Peninsula in the 19th century. Later, they became victim to revolutions, wars and repression. Many were forced to leave their historic lands and resettle on the other sides of the border, resulting in settlements in Sevettijärvi, Finland, Neiden, Norway and Murmansk, Russia.

In a project to lift and promote minorities, Peacepainting traveled to all three places and had painting workshops and exhibitions.

The Skolt Sámi project was divided in three parts:
- Sevettijärvi, Finland
- Verkhnetulomsky and Tuloma, Murmansk, Russia
- Neiden, Norway

In Murmask, Russia, we held workshops with Skolt Sámi children/youth at two schools;
- Vehrnetulomskji Primary and lower Secondary School
- Tuloma Primary and lower Secondary School

We experienced a great enthusiasm among the participants and schools in Tuloma and Verkhnetulomsky, and there was a strong wish for us to come back.