1. Introduction

1.1. What is this thesis about?

Better health service for Sami people has been lifted on the political and professional agenda for many years and from several sides. As a response on a situation with difference in health gradients between the northernmost county of Finnmark, where many Sami live, and the counties further south in Norway, government actions has been implemented since the 1960s to strengthen the Sami peaople. Since 1980, problems of under-utilization of heath services and communication between health workers and Sami patients are brought into focus, and Sami spokesmen still claim that the health services do not ensure the needs of Samia patients. The litterature conserning heath services for Sami people indicate an early conclusion that the existence of health research in the fields of health care among Sami is limited to a few studies, not very wide-ranging. Along with the lack of knowledge about results of governmental action following the political and professional concerns related to health services for Sami, research needs for this thesis were identified. The overall aim of this thesis is to explore empirically aspects of health services in Sami municipalities, and copare with other indigenous people.

This work is carried out in the interface betwwen several fields and diciplines. It draws upon theory and research from political sciences, geography, anthropology, and health science. It is based upon three separate studies.