Northern Lavvu has had many conversations regarding the spelling and terminology used in this website, mainly the words Lavvu and Sami. It is hoped that this page may shead some light on the subject.

The Sami did not have a written language until the mid-nineteenth century, so much of their written source terminology was derived from the nation state from which they resided in (Norway, Sweden, or Finland/Russia). There have been much descussion regarding the various spellings of lavvu and Sami. They are as follows:

Norway: Lavvu (quite common), Lavvo (rare); Sámi and Saami are both used.

Sweden: Lavvo (more common), Lavvu (more rare); Såmi almost exclusivly

Finland: Laavo (common) or Laavu (less common); Saami almost exclusivly (not 'Soumi', which is the Finnish word for themselves).

English: There is no comparative word for lavvu in the English language. Most of the English language academic sources draw from Norwegian citations so the lavvu spelling is more often used.

North America (US and Canada) The spelling of lavvu comes from Sami immigrants and Sami Elders who came mostly from Norway. When the North American Sami community became collectively identifying themselves as a greater continental community during the early 1990's, Sami and Saami were both spelled as terms with Sami being used more commonly.

To make it even more confusing...

...the lavvu structure itself has had several different names; kota, guammie, lavvuguammie and even lavvukota. Each term has been used in certain areas of Northern Scandinavia. We use the term lavvu as a more generic phrase as a "dwelling" and the North American Sami Elders have described the structure shown on this website as just - a lavvu...

In North America, much of the terminology regarding Sami culture has been 'homogenized' because our Sami immigrants came from thirteen Sami cultures/dialects, drawing from four different nation states (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia) and over a one-hundred year period. Being spread out over an entire continent, isolated from each other's Sami identity and only within the past ten years have we come together as a North American Sami community.

It amazing that we can even agree on what "Sami" is - much less fighting about terminology...

Christopher Pesklo (Peskiluoma)
Northern Lavvu