The Sami national anthem
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Far up North 'neath the chariot constellation, Gently rises Saamiland. Mountain upon mountain. Lake upon lake. Peaks, ridges and plateaus Rising up to the skies. Gurgling rivers, sighing forests. Iron capes pointing sharp Out towards the stormy sea. This is the first stanza of the Sami national anthem, «Sámi soga lávlla”. The song is a poem by Isak Saba written in 1906. Isak Saba was a Sami political activist, and was the first Sami to be elected to the Storting, where he held office from 1906 to 1909. At the 1986 Sami conference in Åre, the text was adopted as the Sami national anthem. The poem was set to music by Arne Sørli, and the melody was approved at the 15th Sami Conference in Helsinki in 1992. The text has been translated from Northern Sami into the other Sami languages. The Sami people's song is used today as the national Sámi anthem in all countries, and is sung in celebration of the Sami National Day. Each plenary session of the Sami Parliament also begins with the Sami Parliament representatives singing the national anthem. Listen to the Sami national anthem and read the lyrics in the links below: