hɪstˈɔːɹɪkli, skˈælɛlv hˈæzbiːn ɪnhˈæbɪɾᵻd baɪ ðə sˈɑːmi ænd ðə kˈeɪvˈɛn pˌɑːpjʊlˈeɪʃənz, ænd mˈoːɹ ɹˈiːsəntli baɪ nˈuːkʌmɚz fɹʌmðə mˈoːɹ sˈʌðɚn pˈɑːɹts ʌv nˈoːɹweɪ ænd fˈɪnlənd.
Historically, Skallelv has been inhabited by the Sami and the Kven populations, and more recently by newcomers from the more southern parts of Norway and Finland.