The majority of Sevettijärvi's 350 residents, approximately 90%, are Skolt, although there are a few Finns who have moved north living in the village.

Before that, a few Sámi families had been living in the area, e.g., the Aikios, Kittis, Sarris, Holmbergs, Högmans and Kaarrettis.

Prior to that, people used Bombardier snowmobiles, reindeer and skis to get around in winter and walked, biked or went by boat in the summertime.

The fjeld Jänispää rises out of the ground approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi) north of Sevettijärvi.

A suspension bridge hangs over the Näätämö River at Lake Opukas, an approximately 15 kilometres (9 mi) hike from Sevettijärvi.