Lapp history

The origin of the Lapps

Based on the language sciences it is known that the origin of the sámi language is located on the south side of the Lake Ladoga. From there the sámi language spread to Finland during the first centuries of the chronology.

The spreading of the sámi language. The map is based on the studies of Jaakko Häkkinen.

As the Finnish population spread, the lapp culture had to move away from the most southern areas.

The eastern part of the Finnish Lappland was called Kemi Lappland, because it was governed from Kemi.

The villages in Kemi Lappland at the end 16th century. The map shows also the closest lapp villages in Russia.

There were two lapp villages in Kuusamo-Posio area: Maanselkä and Kitka.

Lapp culture

The lapp people lived mainly on fishing and hunting. Reindeer herding was not so important. They lived in tree and turf huts (kota). They visited once a year markets at Tornio, Kemi or Ii. They traveled using reindeers and skis, and in summer time by boats.

The lapp people paid taxes to Sweden and the tax payers were catalogued. Almost 300 tax payers names from Maanselkä and Kitka villages are known. The lapp villages in the east paid taxed also to Russia.

The lapp people had a natural religion that involved sacrificing to the Gods, witches and spells. The most important Gods were Ukkonen (Thunder), Seita (stone/stone statue) and Hiisi. The witches were both healers and sacrificial priests. The drum (kannus) was used for casting spells. Two lapp witch graves have been found from Kuusamo.

See story on sámi artifact findings near Kuusamo.

Prehistorical family tree

Prehistorical family tree of the lapp families based on DNA samples. Note that earliest years on the tree are rough estimates.

The earliest phases of the family resemble the phases of the spreading of sami language.

Siira and Pietarila families are from Pudasjärvi and they have possibly come the from Savonia. 

Lappalainen family has lived at Savonia. 

Ilkka family is from Southern Ostrobothnia, not far from Savonia.

The lapp families

The families in Kitka and Maanselkä villages 1689. The red colored families have died. The green colored families appear at the end of 18 century.

List of known lapp persons in Kitka and Maanselkä.

Lapp family trees: Sarvi-Aikio-Maaninka, Harri-Paski.   

Lapp heritage

The fate of Kuusamo lapps was rather tragic. Finns rushed into Lapp area in 1680's and Kuusamo turned from solely Lapp to Finnish in a decade. Then came the hunger years in 1696-97 and half of the lapps died. The whole culture was destroyed in 20-30 years. Some families survived and they adapted Finnish lifestyle. The most notable clans are Pitkä, Sarvi, Aikio, Maaninka, Tavajärvi and Ikäpäivä (Paulson).

As an inheritance from lapp era Kuusamo has still reindeer herding livelihood, a lot of sámi originated place names and old folk stories. See more information: Place names