Sámi landscape terms

The Sámi cultural landscape lacks solid, visible boundaries. Traces of human activity are subtle and blend into the landscape. For those who can interpret the signs and understand the traces, and know the names and remember the tales, the landscape is apparent. For the uninitiated, the message is invisible and inaccessible.

The purpose of this text is to provide a glimpse into a landscape built on the experience of earlier generations. This knowledge provides the occasional visitor to Vindelfjällen with a better understanding of the landscape. One should also be aware that everyone, irrespective of one’s origin, possesses an inner map that builds on one’s own and earlier experiences. Understanding place names improves one’s own inner map. Several village residents’ associations now document the local dialectal terms for various places: fields, fishing and hunting sites, paths etc with special names.

It is not unusual for natural objects, such as large boulders, strangely formed mountains, waterfalls and so on to have tales associated with them. Names for natural features reflect how the landscape and its features are appreciated. Places with religious or mystical associations have names; Bassevarre and Ahkavarre are holy mountains. Siejddegavva is also a holy place.

Most of Vindelfjällen belongs to the Ume Sámi language area. Ume Sámi is a transitory form between Lule Sámi and South Sámi. Here we provide a number of Ume Sámi landscape terms.

Learn some of the many landscape words that are part of the Sámi cultural landscape.

Aphe         large mire                                                    

Bákttie      Steep cliff                                         

Stuor         large                                                     

Tjåhke      mountain top

Tjårro        ridge                                                        

Javrrie       small lake, tarn 

Juhka        stream                                                                  

Gasske     between                                    

Gajsie       steep mountain                         

Gårsså       ravine                    

Lusspe       Were a river runs out of a lake                                                       

Luvlinmes  over                                                                

Vaggie       valley                                                            

Varre         hill, mountain                                       

Voöllie        lower