In a major victory for Indigenous heritage rights, the National Museum of Finland has formally transferred a collection of sacred ceremonial drums and 19th-century genealogical records to the Sámi Parliament of Sweden. These artifacts, which were removed from Sápmi territory during the mid-1800s, are considered essential spiritual items that were historically used by Sámi noaidis (shamans) to communicate with the spirit world.
The restitution ceremony took place in Helsinki on April 13, marking the end of a three-year negotiation process. Experts emphasize that the return of these Goavddis (drums) is not merely a transfer of physical objects but a restorative act aimed at reconnecting contemporary Sámi communities with their ancestral spiritual practices. The drums are scheduled for permanent display in the Ájtte Museum in Jokkmokk, where they will be curated by Sámi scholars.