Archive of research materials returned to Skolt Sámi community in Finland

An archive of research materials gathered by French researcher and anthropologist Bernard Frank Viau is set to be returned to the Sámi people, specifically the Skolt Sámi community. Viau visited Finland multiple times during the 1970s, spending significant time in Sámi regions, particularly in areas inhabited by the Skolt Sámi. During his visits, he collected a wealth of material related to the Skolt Sámi.

The archive includes hundreds of slides, photographs, videos, and French-language articles, along with various research materials documenting the culture and traditions of the Skolt Sámi. A Skolt Sámi multidisciplinary arts collective, Suõnn ry, composed of descendants from the Suonikylä Skolt Sámi, has secured a grant from the Finnish Cultural Foundation to facilitate the return of Viau’s research materials to the Skolt Sámi community.

This initiative aims to preserve and promote the history and heritage of the Skolt Sámi, ensuring that this significant body of work is accessible to the community from which it originated. The return of the materials represents an important step in recognizing the value of indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage.