Lapland with Kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We flew to Helsinki via Munich, stayed 2 nights, then flew to Ivalo and rented a car. It’s pretty easy to get around. 4-5 nights in Lapland is enough. It’s amazing.

Did you have any qualms about going there when the indigenous people prefer the region be called "Sápmi" and that they have a history of being horrifically marginalized and their land stolen. They are one of Europe's last indigenous peoples. From the mid-1800s until about late 1960s, they were considered an alien people, often characterized as uncivilized, and a policy towards the Sami marked by racist attitudes and notions of racial hierarchy was pursued.

Is this a bot? ChatGPT?

No, I’m not kidding or am a bot. I had no idea about the Sami people until I read an article about them. They are Europe’s only recognized indigenous group. They are the descendents of the first people who inhabited the northern area of Finland, Norway, Sweden and parts of Russia.

They have been horribly mistreated and their land stolen just like native cultures in US and Canada. They were horribly mistreated and forced into boarding schools to be assimilated.

So if you are going to see raindeer in Lapland you should be aware the herder is Sami.

If you're only now learning about the Sami, it would probably shock you to your core to know of two prominent celebrities with Sami heritage -- Renee Zellweger and Joni Mitchell.

[Anonymous]

In Helsinki I suggest seeing the Temppeliaukio Church (often just called the rock church)

[Anonymous]

OP- did you end up booking? We're also considering for next winter break and trying to figure out where to go- I've read some mixed reviews about Rovaniemi (mainly because of how busy it is over the holidays) and snow reportedly arrived late there this year. So considereing Levi and Saariselka as alternatives but it's a bit overwhelming to sort out the various options. Cuious where others have gone and if yoou have any tips.