Are you just beginning to research your Northern European roots? Perhaps you are just now discovering that your family may have been Sami? This complete book will get you started on your journey to uncover your ancestors from the far North. Not only has Virginia Mattson-Schultz included charts and explanations of the foreign terms you will need in many different languages of Northern Europe, but she has also listed the most helpful web sites and places to begin your search. The author comments, Since many Sami-Americans are not aware of their ethnic background, I talk about sorting out the Sami identity from the identity of the countries in which they live; however, it is my hope that my book will be a help for anyone researching family in the north of these particular countries.

About the Author

Virginia Mattson-Schultz has been interested in genealogy since she was in her twenties and has spent many years researching her own family history, and working both as a professional genealogist for others and a high school language teacher. Her Finnish roots, which encouraged her study of the Sami culture in far northern Europe, and her strong background in languages combine to make her uniquely qualified to write this book. She has also written articles for The Finnish American Reporter and the journals Arran and Baiki. She was born in Trempealeau, Wisconsin, and earned a B.A. from Macalester College and masters degree from the University of Colorado. She currently lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia, with her husband, David Schultz.