Cruise into the Sàmi culture

The energy efficient catamaran has a capacity of 120 passengers

Inari is a small town of 6700 inhabitants in Northern Lapland surrounded by Finland's second biggest lake which counts 3300 islands. The town has a big importance for the Sàmi people, the local indigenous people. Inaugurated in 2012, Sajos, the Sàmi cultural center, is also the home of the parliament. In Finland, three different Sàmi groups are living in the large and wild area: the Northern Sàmi (Northern and Western Lapland), Inari Sàmi and the Skolt Sàmi (smaller community that comes from Russia).

Next to the Siida museum which is dedicated to the Sàmi culture, there is a white catamaran that offers a trip into Sàmi culture from a different angle, twice a day in summer time. The almost 3 hours long cruise brings the passengers to the mystical island of Ukonkivi (Ukko's rock) located at 11km from the city. The boat itself is different from the usual touristic boats. It is brand new with an electrical and a diesel engine. Efficiency and silence are combined which is very appreciable. No black smoke nor annoying noise. The boat is so silent that it is easy to imagine being a swan admiring the breathetaking landscape from the blue water. The other advantage of the catamaran is that it is very stable. There is almost no movements due to the waves.

In the honor of the Sàmi people

Traditional costum from Inari and reindeer leather tambourine

On February 6th, Finland celebrates the Northern people, the Sàmi or Saami in Finnish. This date wasn't randomly chosen. It reminds when the first Sàmi concil meeting was held in Trondheim (Norway) in 1917. Different theories suggest that the origin of the Sámi goes back 4,000 years or more. About 163,000 Sàmis are currently living in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia in an area of 388,350km2. In Lapland, it is more frequent to see reindeers than humans! Locals speak about ten different dialects, and do not necessary understand each other. Traditionally, they were living of fishing, hunting, fur trapping and sheep herding. This day is important to remember these people with their different culture, languages, traditions and way of living.