skolt

Skolt refers to the Skolt Sámi, a Sámi people and their language associated with the eastern border region of Finland and Russia. Traditionally, the Skolts lived in areas around the Finnish-Russian frontier, with communities in Finland near Inari and Sevettijärvi and in parts of Russia such as Murmansk Oblast. They form one of the Sámi peoples, an Indigenous group of the Arctic.

The Skolt Sámi language is a Uralic language in the Sámi branch. It has two historical writing traditions: a Cyrillic script introduced by Russian Orthodox missionaries and a Latin-based orthography that has been used since the 19th century. Today most Skolt Sámi speakers are bilingual in Finnish or Russian, and the language is considered endangered, with only a small community of speakers remaining. UNESCO and other linguistic sources recognize Skolt Sámi as at risk, prompting revitalization efforts.

Cultural life among the Skolts has traditionally centered on fishing, hunting, and reindeer herding, supplemented by duodji (Sámi crafts) and joik singing. The Skolts have a historical association with Orthodox Christianity, and a Skolt Orthodox Church tradition has been influential in their communities. In modern times, cultural revival programs, language classes, and community organizations aim to preserve Skolt heritage and promote the language.

In summary, Skolt denotes both the Skolt Sámi people and their language, a distinct, minority group within the Sámi umbrella. The community continues to balance preserving traditional practices with efforts to revitalize the Skolt Sámi language in the contemporary Nordic-Russian context.