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Find nature at Sámi Museum Siida, European museum of the year

”Here you get a deeper understanding of what you have seen in nature”

In 2024, the Sámi Museum and Nature Centre Siida in Inari received plenty of recognition.

The most significant of which came when the Sámi Museum Siida was selected as the 2024 European museum in Portugal at the EMYA conference of the European Museum Forum.

The Sámi are the only recognised indigenous people in the European Union. In total, about 10,000 Sámi people live in Finland.

In Siida's new main exhibition, the Sámi people themselves tell their own story. More than 300 members of the Sámi community participated in the making of the exhibition about Sámi culture.

“We are very happy about how our own Sámi story touches the entire European museum industry and people around the world,” museum director Taina Pieski said in her acceptance speech in Portugal.

Siida was also chosen as the 2024 Museum of the Year in Finland.

“The new exhibition has been a success, as we have exceeded our previous visitor records. In the year and a half since reopening, 226,000 visitors have visited the Siida centre, and almost 120,000 of them visited our exhibition. More than half of our exhibition visitors are international guests,” says Taina.

In addition to the museum, the nature centre at Siida is the gateway to the unique nature of Northern Lapland.

The Nature Centre of Upper Lapland serves visitors to Urho Kekkonen and Lemmenjoki national parks, Kevo and Sompio nature parks and many wilderness areas.

From the nature centre you can get up-to-date information about the services and maintenance work of nature attractions - and of course also maps, pins and other souvenirs.

“We advise visitors on all questions and give hikers route tips,” says customer advisor Kirsi Mansikka-aho from Metsähallitus Nature Services.

Sámi culture and nature overlap so closely that they fit together perfectly under Siida's roof. Nature also plays a significant role in exhibitions.

“In terms of content, the museum and the nature centre are represented in this building in a ratio of about 50-50,” is the summary of marketing manager Taija Aikio.

Taija knows that many people who spend time in local nature will visit Siida either before or after their trip.

“With the information available here, you can get a deeper understanding of the nature you saw on your trip, or will soon see.”