Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ijahis Idja
MUSIC
Over a weekend usually in August is this excellent music festival that features groups from
all spectra of Sámi music. Ijahis Idja means 'Nightless Night'.
MODERN SÁMI LIFE
The reindeer year starts at the beginning of June because the calves that are born around
May have to be earmarked. After that marking they are free in the fells for the summer. In
autumn we start herding them and decide which are to be killed for meat. To herd them I
use an ATV and after the snow falls, a snowmobile. It takes over two months to herd the
reindeer and it's hopefully done by Christmas. During the winter we move the reindeer
from one area to another because there's not enough food to last them in one place.
You should never ask a Sámi how many reindeer they have; it's like asking someone's
salary. I wouldn't even tell a close friend. Some people have hundreds, some only have a
few.
Our traditions are still important, even to young Sámi. We describe by yoiking (chant-
ing) nature, people, all sorts of happenings, but one never yoiks about oneself. Traditional
clothes are still important to us; we do wear them, mainly on special occasions. The loca-
tions ofseita(holy site) places are still remembered by people, but they don't visit them.
And if they do visit them, it's a secret that you wouldn't tell to anybody else.
The Sámi parliament deals with all aspects of Sámi life. We meet four times a year in In-
ari and are elected by the Sámi people. Our government does listen to us, though that
doesn't mean that they do anything. If we want something, it is our only channel so in that
way it is important. The government asks our advice a lot if they want to know something.
That is our main power I suppose. Of course, we'd like to have more!
Though some areas are protected, in parts of Lapland we have big battles with the
forestry industry. Some are solved, and some are not. I think the question will never go
away; there will always be people wanting to make money from the forest.
Tourism is a good thing for the Sámi people if Sámi people get the results, the benefits
from it. That isn't always the case. Where I live, in Lemmenjoki, tourism directly benefits
the Sámi community, but in other parts the money flows straight out to other places.
Heikki Paltto, reindeer herder and member of the Sámi parliament
