Aims: To present the prevalence of suicidal behaviour among young indigenous Sá,mi in Norway, and to discuss a culture sensitive approach in suicide prevention in Sámi communities.An important aim is to emphasize the importance of knowledge about historical and political processes among indigenous Sámi, the minority-majority perspective and local conditions.Background: The Sámi people are an indigenous group with their own culture and native language residing in the arctic part of Scandinavia.In Norway, the indigenous Sámi are an ethnic minority mainly residing in northern Norway which, like other arctic areas, is sparsely populated.During the last three decades, a process of integration and increased ethnic revival has gradually replaced a history of forced assimilation and colonization.The outcome of the acculturation process has varied in different regions inhabited by Sámi, such as in the highland communities and the coast.The assimilation process had the greatest impact on the coastal communities where the Sámi became a minority, and many Sami lost their Sami identity and their language.The suicide rate among young males is in general high in some areas in Northern Norway.Data from "The North Norwegian Youth Study", a longitudinal epidemiological anonymous questionnaire survey, indicates that there are no significant differences in prevalence of self reported suicide attempts between indigenous Sámi and Norwegian adolescents (10.5 % and 9.2 %) (Silviken and Kvernmo, 2007).When it comes to suicide, an epidemiological register based study among Sámi in Northern Norway (1970-1998), indicates a significant increased suicide mortality among historical and political processes among indigenous Sámi, the minority-majority perspective and local conditions.Background: The Sámi people are an indigenous group with their own culture and native language residing in the arctic part of Scandinavia.In Norway, the indigenous Sámi are an ethnic minority mainly residing in northern Norway which, like other arctic areas, is sparsely populated.During the last three decades, a process of integration and increased ethnic revival has gradually replaced a history of forced assimilation and colonization.The outcome of the acculturation process has varied in different regions inhabited by Sámi, such as in the highland communities and the coast.The assimilation process had the greatest impact on the coastal communities where the Sámi became a minority, and many Sami lost their Sami identity and their language.The suicide rate among young males is in general high in some areas in Northern Norway.Data from "The North Norwegian Youth Study", a longitudinal epidemiological anonymous questionnaire survey, indicates that there are no significant differences in prevalence of self reported suicide attempts between indigenous Sámi and Norwegian adolescents (10.5 % and 9.2 %) (Silviken and Kvernmo, 2007).When it comes to suicide, an epidemiological register based study among Sámi in Northern Norway (1970-1998), indicates a significant increased suicide mortality among young Sámi aged 15-24 for both males and females (estimated suicide rates 53/100 000 p.y.and 16/100 000 p.y., respectively) (Silviken, Haldorsen and Kvernmo, 2006).It is well-known that in some Sámi communities there has been a high prevalence of suicide during the last three decades, and that several villages have experienced suicide clusters.Methods: A suicide prevention project" Openness and intimacy" implemented in Tana community (2007-2009) in Finnmark the northern most county in Norway, will be used as a case to exemplify a culture sensitive suicide prevention approach.The background and the framework of the project will be presented.The geographical and cultural diversity in Tana community and some preventions strategies will be presented to exemplify how this prevention project made adjustments to local cultural context.Conclusion: Prevalence of suicide is relatively high in some Sámi areas and especially among young Sámi.Suicide is a severe public health problem in some Sámi communities and demand implementation of culture sensitive suicide prevention strategies in general and especially towards adolescent and young adults.In conclusion, the responsibility for design and implementation of prevention strategies should be deeply rooted,locally and adjusted to local conditions.