Kemi Sámi is an umbrella label for Sámi languages that were originally spoken in the district of Finnish Lapland as far south as the Sámi siidas around Kuusamo.
Extinct now for over 100 years, few written examples of Kemi Sámi survive. Johannes Schefferus's Lapponia from 1673 contains two yoik poems by the Sodankylä Sámi Olof (Mattsson) Sirma, "Kúlnasats niråsam" and "Morse faurog". A short vocabulary was written by the Finnish priest Jacob Fellman in 1829 after he visited the villages of Salla (Kuolajärvi until 1936) and Sompio.Äima, F, Itkonen, T.I. 1918: Jacob Fellmanin muistiinpanot Sompion ja Kuolajärven lapin murteista. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Aikakauskirja 30 p. 1-91.
Sample texts The following translation of the Lord's Prayer still survives, assumedly recorded in the Sompio dialect, although dn (in "ädnamest") is a feature resembling Northern Sámi:
Lord's Prayer, village of Sompio (Sodankylä)
This is Sirma's first poem, "Kúlnasats niråsam", a Sámi love story which he sang to spur on his reindeer so that they will run faster: Kemi SámiSwedishBjörn Collinder: "Lapparna"; Stockholm; 1953EnglishChristopher Forster (2011)Kulnasatj, my little cow! It is time for us to travel, to leave for the northern forest, to hurry over great bogs, to travel to the home of the admirable.
Do not detain me long, Kajgavare, farewell, Kälvejaure! Many thoughts are on my mind, when I travel on Kaiga bay.
Hurry now swift one, my cow, so that before that we may be on time at that which Sarak sent, the fate intended for me.
Alas, that soon I saw her, let me look at my darling! Kulnasatj, my little cow, do you see her eyes now?Swedish translation by Björn Collinder. English version proofread by Christopher Forster
This is Sirma's second poem, "Morse faurog", the one he sang when he was far away from his love to prize her beauty. Kemi SámiSwedishEnglishMay the sun shine warm on the Red Squirrel Water!
If I climb up the ladder to the top in a spruce tree and knew I were looking at the Red Squirrel Water, where she dwells in the heather, I would cut down all these trees as this have sprung up recently; I would mince all these branches, which bear beautiful greenery.
I let myself be driven by the light clouds, which traveled on the road to the Red Squirrel Water. I happily fly there with crow wings, but I have not even got a common goldeneye's wings to fly over there;
nor goose wings or feet to make my way to you. Sure, you awaited, your best days, with your gentle eyes, with your warm heart
If it were, that you fled afar, I would still catch up with you soon.
What is it that can be harder than bands of tendons or chains as tight hard, which bind the head, distort thoughts.
The boy's sense is the wind's sense, the young person's thoughts are long thoughts. If I listen to them all, then I will turn into the wrong road. I have to choose me a sole mind that I may find the pathway.Swedish translation by Björn Collinder
See also Sámi people Akkala Sámi language Kildin Sámi language Sápmi Colonialism Extinct language
References