Her parents were Sámi and she grew up in a Kildin Sámi-speaking household, although she was not allowed to use the language in school.
[1] Her grandparents followed traditional Sámi professions, including reindeer herding, fishing, hunting, and gathering, but her family become settled in Lovozero under Soviet policies of the time.
[5] In September 2014, Sovkina, as the representative for Russian Sámi, was scheduled to participate in the U.N. General Assembly's World Conference on Indigenous Peoples in New York City.
On the way from Lovozero to the airport in Kirkenes, Norway, Sovkina's car was stopped three times by police.
During the final stop, near Zapolyarny, Russia, she was attacked by a man who tried to grab her bag and passport.