Its so hard to describe my indigeneity to other people. Like despite this being a blog where I am decolonizing myself and discussing Saami topics I don't really call myself Saami, instead preferring the term indigenous. (I do however relate with the Saami diaspora there just isn't much activity in my area.)

This is in part because I have not grown up on the land. As a member of the diaspora I don't have that first hand experience that others have and I think that is one of the most important things when referring to yourself a member of the group. While not living there now my family did somewhat recently and the inter-generational trauma is something that I deal with every day. The things my family had to do to survive effect me. I might not have grown up in Sampi but the land is still a part of me.

Like I feel crazy saying that I don't call myself Saami but I do use the label of indigenous for myself. Does that make sense to anyone else? I think another part of it is even before I started my reconnection I was heavily involved in my local native American community. I have in some way spent many adolescent years being 'tradish' and growing up on the land, just not Sampi. For me being connecting with my indigeneity is expressed by going to powwow, wearing ribbon skirts, moccasins, and trade beads. I can fancy dance better than I vuelie. Just in general I have miles more knowledge on the American Indigenous peoples then the Saami. I do love being involved in the American indigenous community but sometimes it does sometimes feel like I am trading part of my saami identity for that.

Hamas is saying it: