Sápmi, the traditional homeland of the Sámi people, is a land divided by the borders of Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Russia. However, a new exhibition titled We Who Remain, running from March 23 to September 6, 2026, aims to bridge those divides and immerse audiences in Sámi identity through the voices of the Sámi themselves.
Curated by Petra Laiti, a passionate advocate for Sámi rights and a multifaceted artist in her own right, this exhibition features contemporary works from 20 artists that reflect the richness of Sámi culture from the 1970s to today. It promises to be a profound exploration of their artistic expression and societal issues.
The exhibition is a collaboration between Helsinki’s Kiasma and the Sámi Museum Siida in Inari, northern Finland. “Sámi contemporary art is gaining significant international recognition,” notes Taina Máret Pieski, director of Siida. “This exhibition marks a significant milestone as the first major showcase of Sámi contemporary art and duodji [Sámi handicrafts] ever held in Helsinki.”
Deep Significance
Sámi rights advocate, essayist, and musician Petra Laiti is the curator of We Who Remain.
Photo: Lotta Hurnanen
Pieski emphasizes the importance of having a Sámi curator for this exhibition: “Petra Laiti’s vision intricately connects our People’s past with the present.” The Sápmi region, she explains, has a legacy that predates the formation of modern Nordic states and their nationalistic narratives. This exhibition seeks to shed light on the profound and sometimes overlooked complexities of Sámi identity, illustrating how it not only survives but thrives against various challenges.
“For too long, the Nordic peoples have been taught to believe that Sápmi was a mere figment or a place that no longer holds significance,” Laiti asserts. “But let me be clear: before the rise of the Nordic countries, there was Sápmi. It wasn’t defined by the boundaries of today’s states or the concept of nationality tied to passports; it was a true nation, the only one to have called these lands home.”
By ThisisFINLAND staff, February 2026