Developing Saami statistics in Norway - challenges and possibilities

Nobody knows exactly where the Sami individuals live today and there are only some (different) estimates on the size of the Sami population. Due to establishment of various kinds of Sami institutions during the last couple of decades (in politics, education, media etc.), there has been an increased Sami demand for statistics on the modern Sami society. All Sami are of course included in the official statistics covering the whole of each state's population. The problem is that since there is no registration of ethnicity in the censuses, there is no basis for making official statistics regarding the Sami population in spesific. This situation is the background for the ongoing project Sami related statistics in Norway - contents, organizing and management. The project is commissioned by the Sámediggi in Norway, and it is organized as a joint project between Sámi Instituhtta/Nordic Sami Institute and Statistics Norway. Although this project concentrates on Sami statistics in Norway, it also aims to establish contact with potential collaboration partners in Sweden and Finland (Russia is not yet included). This network building is meant to be a part of the work on (hopefully) future development and organization of Sami statistics in/from all four nation states with Sami population - as well as on arrangement for Sami contributions to international indigenous statistics. The paper will deal with the challenges and possibilities regarding development of Sami statistics in Norway.