What technologies or knowledges are presented as the most important human innovations in history classes and at museums? After fire and stone tools, the invention of the wheel is com-monly near the top of the list. But what about ski technology, a Sámi innovation dating back more than 5,000 years? Why is it so rarely celebrated as the major technological innovation that it is? What other Arctic innovations, what Sámi technological expertise, is left out of the his-tory books and exhibitions, of the human past and present? Writing as historian of science and technology, this chapter is a step towards a more comprehensive history of humanity, inclusive of the Arctic region of Fenno-Scandinavia, and in particular the Sámi territories, foregrounding Sámi technological knowledge and expertise, adapted to specific conditions and geographies in the Arctic climate.

The article draws on the extensive scholarly and popular literature on Sámi and Swedish/Nordic history and archaeology, as well as the history of skiing. In addition, I have spoken to fel-low Sámi and non-Sámi experts within this field. I have made the option to, whenever possible, refer to literature in English, even though most literature on Sámi technology and expertise is only available in the Fenno-Scandinavian languages. As my knowledge of languages limits me to English, Swedish, and Norwegian, I have not covered literature in Finnish, Sámi, and Russian. I regret this; in particular as I am aware of the fact that had not the assimilation policies in Sweden been so fierce, I would have grown up as a speaker of Swedish, Sámi and Meänkieli, a language close to Finnish.