by the Sámi Parliaments. The interstate cooperation is organized by the umbrella organization Sámi Council.

Historically, the Scandinavian peoples referred to the Sámi using the exonyms Finns and Lapps, terms now considered outdated or pejorative. In Scandinavian languages, historical names for the region include Finnmork, Lappmarken, and Lappland, and in English,