Our National Day
February 6, is the National Day of the Sami people, no matter where they live, whether in Norway, Finland, Sweden or Russia.
The first cross-border conference took place on February 6, 1917, when more than a hundred Sami from both Sweden and Norway, many of them women, gathered in Trondheim, Norway. It was the first time in history that Northsami and Southsami gathered to discuss current matters affecting them all. That's why February 6 has been chosen as an important and symbolic day for all Sami in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.
In 1986 the Nordic Sami Conference in Åre, Sweden, decided that the Sámi Soga Lávlla, would officially become the National Anthem of the Sami People. The lyrics were written in 1906 by the Seasami man Isak Saba (1875-1921). He was a teacher and church musician, born in Nesseby in Norway. Isak Saba was the first Sami to be elected as a Member of the Norwegian Parliament. The tune is composed by Arne Sörli.
During the 22nd Nordic Sami Conference in Váhtjer/Gällivare Sweden, the yoik ”Sámieatnan duoddariid” was chosen as a national yoik. The yoik was written by the author, musician and artist Nils-Aslak "Áillohaš" Valkeapää who created the yoik in the 70’s. There is no sheet music since the yoik can be adapted to suit the different yoiking traditions in Sápmi.