SYMBOLISM
The Sámi flag is characterized by traditional Sámi design. The colors Red, Blue, Yellow and Green are the usual colors found on the traditional Sámi clothes. The split circle which characterizes the flag is a symbol wich symbolizes the sun, with the red being the sun and the blue being the moon. The circle and the transverse stripes are placed in the left part of the flag, in a way these evokes associations to the cross found in the other Nordic countries flags.
HISTORY
In the late 1960’s there were multiple proposals for a new Sámi flag from various places. it was only during a demonstration in Alta that one of these flag proposals received a major breakthrough. A few years passed, and in 1986 the flag the Sami have today was approved by the 13th Nordic Sami Conference in Åre, Sweden where delegates from Norway, Sweden and Finland gathered.
The “first Sámi flag”, as it is often called, had a red field on the left and a larger blue field on the right, separated by a left-facing yellow line. This was then inspired by colors and patterns found in traditional Sami garments such as Sami jackets etc.
in 1977 a lady from Porsanger, Norway, who was then a student at the art academy in Oslo, suggested using this pattern for the Sami flag. Persen got the idea to design a Sami flag after a study trip to another Nordic minority population, the Faroese. When the Alta battle gained strength from 1978 onwards, the flag that Persen had proposed was widely used, and eventually became known as an unofficial flag for the Sami people. In the 1980s, the Nordic Sami Council held a competition to come up with a common, international Sami flag. 74 proposals were sent in from 24 different proposers and the unofficial Sami flag was included. A working group under the Sami Council discussed the proposals.
None of the flag proposals were submitted with an explanation of their symbolism, but the working group recognized the divided circle in Båhl’s proposal, which was then a symbol of the sun and the moon. It was highlighted that the sun/moon circle is used in the flags of other indigenous peoples, such as the Greenlanders and the Australian Aborigines. Regarding the color choice, there had previously been objections to the existing Sami flag that red, blue and yellow are “Northern Sami” colors, and that the green stripe would make it easier for other Sami groups to identify with the flag.
A majority of the committee was in favor of the new flag proposal, while a minority was in favor of keeping the first Sami flag. At the 13th Nordic Sami conference, which was held in 1986, the conference had to choose between Synnøve Persen’s flag from 1977 and Astrid Båhl’s proposal. When the matter was finished debating, there was finally a unanimous majority in favor of what is today the Sami flag.
THE USE OF THE FLAG
Since 1986, the Sami flag has been used as a common flag for the Sami in Norway, Sweden, Russia and Finland. Official flag days have also been prepared for Norway, Finland and Sweden
COLOURS OF THE FLAG
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The official yellow color is Pantone 116C.
Digital colors:
R:255 G:206 B:0
C:1 M:18 Y:100 K:0
The official blue color is Pantone 286C.
Digital colors:
R:0 G:53 B:173
C:100 M:83 Y:6 K:2
The official green color is Pantone 356C.
Digital Color:
R:0 G:114 B:41
C:100 M:28 Y:100 K:19
The official red color is Pantone 485C.
Digital Color:
R:220 G:36 B:31
C:8 M:98 Y:100 K:1
METRIC DIMENSIONS OF THE FLAG
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SOURCES
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Sámi flag - Wikipedia
Det samiske flagget – Wikipedia
Sameflaggets farger og dimensjoner - Sametinget
- Yes
- No