In a statement, the President of the Sámi Council, Áslat Holmberg, has urged Square Enix to immediately remove the “Far North Attire” from Final Fantasy XIV. He cites the cultural rights of the Sámi regarding clothing.
Which outfit is being referred to? On December 14, a new outfit arrived in the FFXIV cash shop (cover image). The Far North Attire consists of 5 pieces and costs €13.50.
Its appearance is inspired by the traditional clothing of northern cultures, with the strongest influence coming from Sámi clothing. This is an indigenous people primarily located in the northern regions of Fennoscandia, but it also has representatives in Russia.
This outfit is currently causing controversy with an organization that represents the interests of the Sámi.
“Our rights to cultural property are not theoretical”
What is being demanded? In the appeal to Square Enix, the President of the Sámi Council demands that Square Enix “immediately remove the outfit from the game and engage in a dialogue with the Sámi people.”
The company has violated the cultural rights of the people with this outfit, Holmberg states:
[…] Our rights to cultural property are not theoretical. They are and will be protected by intellectual property rights that are recognized worldwide. As a media company, Square Enix is well aware of these rights, and there is no excuse for this blatant violation […]
The Council believes that Square Enix’s violation is particularly harmful because Sámi clothing represents not only the pure appearance but also a part of the people’s identity.
By selling the product, Square Enix has allowed 41 million players [sic] to dress up as Sámi, thereby contributing to the erosion of culture, the Council states.
In the end of the appeal, Holmberg emphasizes that the Sámi Council has often collaborated with media companies regarding Sámi culture in the past. There is a “appropriate and suitable way to build, maintain, and enforce this cooperation, ensuring that all necessary elements are taken into account.”
However, the Council’s statement lacks a reference to potential legal consequences should Square Enix fail to comply with their demands. Thus, it is unclear how exactly the Sámi Council will proceed if the outfit remains in the game.
The statement of the Sámi Council joins the ranks of disputes and scandals that have occurred in recent months around FFXIV:
