Description of the museum
In Neiden, right on the border with Finland and not far from Russia, you will find the Äʹvv Skoltesamisk museum, a cultural history museum that tells the story of the Skolt Sámi, a Sámi people with roots in the border areas between Norway, Finland and Russia. The museum opened in 2017 and aims to strengthen and highlight Skolt Sámi culture, language and identity, while also imparting knowledge about the Skolt Sámi past and present.
In the permanent exhibition Saaʹmijânnam, Skoltelandet you get an insight into the life and history of the Skolt Sámi, from the end of the Ice Age until the post-war period. Through around 300 objects and various installations, the story is told through three perspectives: The People, the Land and the World. Here you can learn about social life, traditions, language, natural resources and how the seasons have shaped the Skolt Sámi way of life.
The museum also provides a unique encounter with the Skolt Sámi language. Skolt Sámi is one of the world's endangered languages, and at Äʹvv the language is a central part of the communication. The name Äʹvv means "the sun's reflection on water or snow" - a name that in many ways reflects the museum's connection to the landscape and culture of the area.
A visit to Äʹvv can be combined with a trip to Skoltebyen, an important cultural heritage site about 1.5 kilometers from the museum. Here you will find, among other things, the Russian Orthodox St. George's Chapel from the 16th century and a number of other traces of the Skolt Sámi community. Together, the museum and Skoltebyen provide a vivid insight into a cultural heritage that is closely linked to the landscape around Neiden.
The Skolt Sami Museum is a natural stop for those who want to understand more of the history, culture and people who have left their mark on the border areas of the Kirkenes region.
