1 of 1
Story summary
- Language nests established in 1990 by the Inari Sámi Language Association have revitalized the Inari Sámi language, which had faced near extinction.
- The nurseries immerse children in Inari Sámi, leading to rapid language acquisition.
- Since their introduction, the number of young speakers has risen to about 100, with total speakers across all ages reaching 500.
- Sociolinguistics professor Annika Pasanen notes that in 1995 only two families spoke Inari Sámi to their children.
- The nests have reversed the language shift, with young parents now teaching Inari Sámi to their children, marking a significant cultural revival.
