The Sámi people are indigenous to Sápmi , a cultural neighborhood of Europe and Russia thatcovers the northern partsof Norway , Finland , Sweden , and Russia . For century , the Sámi mass relied onreindeerherding for food , warmth , and income .
Although the Sámi — along with many autochthonic cultures — have been suppressed over the years , they have found ways to keep up their account and livelihood . Reindeer crowd is still common in some areas . Here are a few facts about Sámi caribou herders you might not know .
1. Sámi reindeer herders used to be nomadic.
Many Sámi mass were once completely wandering . Groups of several family wouldmigrate with their reindeer herdsto follow the animals ’ rude patterns . The Sámi multitude are also skilled in fishing and hunting , which they would do to bung themselves as they moved around .
Today , nomadism within the Sámi community has all but disappeared . It has become more hard for the Sámi to proceed as nomads due to the lack of grazing country . By using new technology like GPS tracking and snowmobiles , the Sámi have found new ways to supervise and manage their herds . As a event , a few herders will move with their Rangifer tarandus alone during the summertime and wintertime while their class and other community members live in lasting lodging ; the most recent sight suggest about 40,000 Sámi live in Norway , 20,000 exist in Sweden , 6000 live in Finland , and 2000 live in Russia .
2. It’s rude to ask someone how many reindeer they own.
While this may seem like an innocent interrogation born out of curiosity , it ’s considered impolite to take a Sámi herderhow many reindeerthey own . Because drover make their life from their reindeer , this is essentially the same as involve someone how much money they have in their bank bill .
It is fine , however , to ask someone about the herd patterns of their reindeer , how the beast are used , or any other question you may have about their lifestyle . In fact , many Sámi family line now make money via thetourism industryby offering tours of their base , cooking class , and the opportunity to interact with their reindeer .
3. Reindeer are used in many ways.
Sámi masses expend reindeer for transportation , food , and habiliment . Like other cultures that rely on beast , the Sámi use every part of the Greenland caribou after butchering it . Reindeer enshroud are dry and sew together into mittens andnutukas , which are shortsighted boots that are incredibly warm and provide excellent grip in the snow ; reindeer leather is used to make thegákti , a traditional pullover top . The reindeer ’s fur lines leg covering and other piece of clothing to keep the wearer ardent even in the most frosty temperatures .
Reindeer meat is a staple fibre in Sámi diets and is eaten throughout Scandinavia . You ’ll often determine this meat in stews and pies or turned into sausage balloon or dry out meats . Bidos is atasty stewmade with reindeer gist , carrots , onions , and Irish potato that ’s often served at weddings and other special social occasion . The Sámi also use the bones , hooves , fat , and wit in their cooking .
4. Only ethnic Sámi are allowed to own and herd reindeer in Norway.
As a result of Sámi activism , theReindeer Husbandry Actwas passed in 2007 in an endeavour to protect Sámi culture and customs . The act declare that only mass who are Sámi and have a parent or grandparent who practices Greenland caribou agriculture as their primary occupation are permit to own and herd the ungulate .
Reindeer are devise by earmark , which are diminished cut in a cervid ’s ear that sign which person or folk the animal belong to . There are about 20 to 30 different earmarks that are okay by the committee creditworthy for set if someone is able to own and herd reindeer in Norway . The 2007 deed also specifies that reindeer husbandry in Norway must be “ economically , ecologically , and culturally executable ” [ PDF ] .
5. Reindeer herders (and all Sámi people) have faced cultural erasure over the years …
Like many autochthonal multitude , the Sámi have had to fight to keep their tradition and culture alive . Since the 18th 100 , the governments of Norway , Finland , and Sweden have create limit point onreindeer husbandry(the praxis of herding reindeer in a limited area ) . This has includedreducing the number of reindeerthat one individual is allowed to own , as well as ostracize permit for those who do n’t make enough profit from their ruck .
The Sámi were also forced to take in after being colonized by Christian missionaries in the 17th C . Sámi languages werebanned in many schoolsand children were post to embarkation school to be separated from their culture , where some were used for dehumanizing scientific experiments . At one point , Rangifer tarandus herder were deal an “ inferior race ” and were sent to school to ostracize them from bon ton . Shamanism , a religious practice session used by Sámi people for hundred , was demonized to encourage the autochthonous people to change to Christianity . Some church service have since apologise for their activeness toward the Sámi people .
6. … But they are fighting back to keep their culture alive.
Although Norse government activity continue to fight against the Sámi people , they’repushing backto keep their acculturation from disappearing . Many Sámi women areseeking higher educationto bear out their families while being able-bodied to pass off on their heritage . Victories from militant in the mid-20th century allowed Sámi family unit to teach their children about their cultivation once again , including the practice of reindeer husbandry .
Sámi in Norway , Sweden , and Finland all have their own parliaments , as well as an international organization call in the Saami Council , to help advocate for the rights of their people . These organizations are presently prove to forestall actions that could cause even more hurt to their communities , like build wind turbines in Norway that would impinge on land used during reindeer migration . They ’re also fighting to get back the land that was stolen from them , which could help reindeer herders regenerate the industry .
7. The filmsFrozenandFrozen 2were inspired by Sámi culture.
The popular Disney enliven moviesFrozen(2013 ) andFrozen 2(2019 ) are pose in Norway and took inspiration from the Sámi hoi polloi for various share of their stories . Although the original flick ’s writers traveled to Norway and speak with local for inhalation , there was some controversy about how the Sámi peoplewere representedin the film — specifically regarding concern over whitewashing and misrepresenting Norse reindeer drover .
To handle this job , Disney worked with the Saami Council and Saami Parliaments , Sámi film psychiatric hospital , and effectual advisors to ensure thatFrozen 2represented the Sámi peoplemore accurately . The film ’s Northuldra people are think to represent Sámi reindeer herders , while other characters wear thin traditional clothing from Sámi culture .
8. There are nine languages spoken among the Sámi.
While all Sámi languages are close related , they are different enough that people from separate regions would not be able to communicate with each other . Three of the languages areactively usedin northerly Norway , while others are used across Finland , Sweden , and northern Russia . ( Norwegian , Swedish , Finnish , and Russian are not touch on to the Sámi voice communication . )
Languages are by and large group by part and length . A Rangifer tarandus herder in Norway may be able to speak effortlessly with a neighbor across the borderline of Sweden , but be ineffective to communicate with someone in a different part of their same country . According to UNESCO , all Sámi languages arecurrently endangered ; however , various council are work to keep them around through linguistic programs , courses , and evenapps .
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