SESAME · Unlocking Hidden History: The Sami in Swedish Farming Areas

The Sami, the indigenous population of Sweden, Norway, Finland, and parts of Russia, are usually perceived as a reindeer-herding, nomadic people living in barren mountains and forests. However, the Sami have also for a long time been a part of farming societies dominated by other ethnicities. Despite some research on the “Parish Sami” of Central Sweden, this part of rural history is generally ignored.The SESAME project aims to unlock hidden history and deliver the first comprehensive study of the Sami living in farming areas before 1900 AD, with a focus on Sami agency without ignoring the importance of external factors. More specifically, SESAME will:–Provide an extensive overview of the Sami population of farming areas.–Redefine the historical geography of the Sami.–Clarify the dynamics and drivers of migration.–Develop methods to locate and investigate Sami dwelling sites. –Assess the ethnic identity of individuals and describe processes of acculturation and assimilation. –Map connections between the Sami populations of Sweden, Norway, and Finland.–Provide a comprehensive synthesis on the role of Sami in Fennoscandian farming society.The objectives of SESAME will be achieved through traditional historical research combined with linguistic and archaeological studies, as well as remote analysis, geographical information systems and methods of forest history. The project includes extensive cooperation with other interested parties and the creation of a network across Fennoscandia. The project team will consist of a PI with longtime experience of most of the sources and methods included, and two postdocs with complementary competencies.The SESAME project will lay a solid foundation for future research, both on Sami and on other indigenous populations and on marginal groups, and provide a truer image of the rural history of Fennoscandia, where the part played by the Sami finally receives the recognition it deserves.