Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Although Sami rights are supported by most parties across the political spectrum, the
Sami's struggle continues. The right-wing Fremskrittspartiet has called for the Sámi Parlia-
ment to be abolished.
Reindeer herding, once the mainstay of the Sami economy, was successfully modernised
in the 1980s and 1990s and is now a major capital earner. In addition to reindeer herding,
modern Sami engage in fishing, agriculture, trade, small industry and the production of
handicrafts.
The Sámi People: Traditions in Transition
by Veli-Pekka Lehtola takes you on a journey
through Sami history and is a study of how Sami culture has adapted to the needs of the
modern world.
NILS MIKKEL SOMBY: SAMI REINDEER HERDER
Nils Mikkel Somby has spent his life in the rolling hill country above the Iešjokha River
west of Karasjok. He continues to herd his family's 3000 reindeer and migrates with them
to Nordkapp every April, returning around October.
It must be a tough life being a Sami.
My mother was out herding reindeer on her
own in winter when she was 10 and my father, who is 74, is still out herding every day.
There must have been many changes in the Sami way of life.
In the old times, life
for the Sami was very difficult. We had to do everything on skis or on foot and we had to
be camped out in the mountains during the winter. Now we have cabins with heating. But
if one thing has made Sami life easier, it is the snowmobile - we can use it to check on the
reindeer, to bring supplies, and then return to our huts. So in that way, life is much better
for us. But now there are too many rules, how many reindeer we can have and so on.
The winters must be very long.
Life in winter is hard because of the cold and because
it's always dark and you can only track the reindeer by looking for their footprints in the
snow. But this is also my favourite time of the year. Can you see how beautiful it is here,
with sun shining and no other people in sight?
And the next generation?
The modern world needs so much, things like roads and re-
sources from remote places. And with so many distractions for young Sami, it's difficult
to keep our culture alive. Fifty years from now, I hope that there will still be Sami up here. I
am not so sure.
