Tornedalians
tornionlaaksolaiset (Meänkieli) | |
|---|---|
Flag of Tornedalians | |
Man from Kolari in traditional clothing. | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Sweden | 40,000–150,000 |
| Languages | |
| Meänkieli, Finnish and Swedish | |
| Religion | |
| Lutheranism (Laestadianism) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Kvens, Peräpohjalaiset, Finns, Karelians | |
Tornedalians (Meänkieli: tornionlaaksolaiset; Finnish: tornionjokilaaksolaiset; Swedish: tornedalingar) are an ethnic minority native to the Meänmaa (Torne Valley) region in northern Sweden and Finland. Tornedalians may refer to themselves using several different terms, though most commonly as Tornedalians, Kvens or Lantalaiset. Tornedalians were officially recognized as a distinct national minority in Sweden in 2000. In Finland, Tornedalians are generally considered a regional subgroup of Finns.