Saami Council Demands Square Enix Removes Final Fantasy 14 Far Northern Attire from Game

gamerant.com:

The Saami Council, a non-governmental organization focused on promoting the rights of Sami people internationally, demands Square Enix remove Final Fantasy 14's recently-added Far Northern Attire cosmetic. Final Fantasy 14 is heavily influenced by cultures across the world with regard to the peoples of Hydaelyn, the MMO's setting. However, it seems Square Enix may have assumed too much and taken too much liberty with regard to Final Fantasy 14's Far Northern Attire cosmetic.

The Saami Council was formed in 1956 to represent the interests of the indigenous peoples of Sapmi, a region including parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. Now a largely urbanized demographic, like many indigenous populations the Sami are fighting to protect and promote their culture. One example would an agreement between the Sami and Walt Disney Animation Studios to involve the Sami in the creation of Frozen 2, both to ensure the film is appropriate and respectful of Sami culture and to contribute back to Sami society.

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A situation has now come about due to the release of the Far Northern Attire cosmetics in Final Fantasy 14, which the Saami Council alleges infringes on the cultural property rights of the Sami people. More specifically, the Saami Council alleges that the design of the Far Northern Attire is «particularly damaging» because Sami clothing traditions are not just an aesthetic, but rather «carry the significance of being specific elements of Sami identity with meaning, content, and context.» By making the Far Northern Attire available as a microtransaction, the Saami Council says Square Enix has «allowed their 41 million players to dress up as a Sami people, clothe