Siinailtalaiset

The Siinailtalaiset are an indigenous Sami people traditionally inhabiting the county of Pajala in Swedish Lapland. Their traditional territory spans the areas along the Torne River, specifically in the regions of Siilanjoki and Poroönjoki.

Historically, the Siinailtalaiset have practiced subsistence on the forest and river resources of their territory. Their livelihoods were tied to hunting, fishing, and gathering, which they supplemented with reindeer herding. These practices provided a foundation for their traditional lifestyle, revolving around seasonal cycles and close connections to nature.

Their culture and social organization were traditionally governed by a matrilineal kinship system, with women playing key roles in family and community management. This was a departure from the typical patriarchal systems prevalent in other Sami communities.

A significant portion of their identity has been shaped by their language, which is part of the Lule Sami language group, a branch of the Samic language family. Efforts have been made to document and preserve this language through research and language documentation initiatives.

Not much documentation exists about the daily life or cultural practices of the Siinailtalaiset, largely due to historical neglect and underrepresentation in the historical record. Consequently, our understanding of the community's past and its traditions is inferred through interpretation and inference from related Sami cultures in the region.

More recent attempts have been made to revive and document the language and culture, leading to development of creative projects that seek to bridge the historical knowledge gaps and promote cultural revitalization among this indigenous people.