In case you’re not familiar, the Sámi are the traditional indigenous people inhabiting the region of Sápmi, which today encompasses large northern parts of Norway, Sweden, and Finland. They are historically reindeer herders who manage herds for food, clothing and income. Inari Sámi is a language that's only spoken in the area of Lake Inari in Finland, and one that was on the brink of extinction just a few decades ago. In 1995, only two families spoke Inari Sámi to their children, and just four speakers were under the age of 20. The language was going to die out, but that’s when everything changed. Local children began taking part in a novel, immersive language experiment. The Inari Sámi Language Nest is an early years education concept with the goal of creating a new generation of speakers by completely immersing young children in the language. The 11 children of the Inari village nursery sit on soft pads resembling large tree slices. The children's faces light up as they sing Sámi nursery rhymes, clapping to the rhythm while they chant. Activities like this play a crucial role in preserving and passing down the Sámi language and cultural heritage, says teacher Tiina Lehmuslehti, who leads the session by gently guiding the children and encouraging them to participate. From there, it takes about six months for the 3- to 4-year-old children to begin speaking fluently. Research shows that young children in immersive language environments such as these can pick up a new language with relative ease. "Language is part of culture. If the Inari Sámi language disappears, there won't be Inari Sámi people anymore," says language teacher Fabrizio Brecciaroli. Thanks to revitalization, being an Inari Sámi and speaking the language is now something to be proud of.”
