Sámi Museum Siida chosen as European Museum of the Year

Sámi Museum Siida in Inari has been selected as the European Museum of the Year 2024 at the EMYA conference organized by the European Museum Forum in Portimão, Portugal on Saturday, said Siida in a press release.

Sámi Museum authority thanked the EMYA jury, the European Museum Forum, the city of Portimão, and ICOM Finland for the award and the opportunity to participate in the conference.

“Sámi Museum Siida, as an indigenous museum, is primarily for the Sámi people themselves. But we are extremely pleased to see how our Sámi story resonates with the entire European museum community and people around the world,” said museum director Taina Pieski said in her acceptance speech.

The museum authority said that the award belongs to the entire Sámi community, its elders who have supported our work with their knowledge and skills, and the entire staff of the Sámi Museum for their heartfelt efforts.

In Siida’s new main exhibition, the Sámi themselves tell their own story. More than 300 members of the Sámi community participated in the preparation of the exhibition on Sámi culture.

Siida authority hopes that this award gives it strength to continue important repatriation work for the community.

For this work, the museum needs the support of the entire European museum community so that the artifacts of its ancestors return home to Sápmi.