Scenes from northern Finland
Up north to Vardo, Norway
Trip bird list
The proud Sami share their culture, and their talents
Photos of Audubon Lapland, June 2002, by Jack Dodge, Click thumbnails for larger image
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The Sami, the name they prefer to Lapps, are the native people who are known as reindeer herders and fishermen. Their land includes parts of northern Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia. Their tale is told in the fabulous Siida Museum in Inari, just north of Ivalo, Finland.
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| A doe and calf come in for the evening feeding at the Inarin Porofarmi (reindeer farm). | Many of the reindeer at the farm are white, which legend says belong to the fairies, and must be "bought" with rituals. | ||
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| Velvet covers the antlers of this male reindeer. | The quiet approach seemed to work the best. | The herd shed their heavy winter coats as summer begins. | The reindeer take shelter in this "reindeer house" where their urine discourages mosquitoes. |
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| Morel soup, reindeer stew and lingonberries were on the menu at the large Sami kota at the farm. | Our Sami guide and hostess, Maaret, who entertained with "yoicks" accompanied by the Sami drum, once used by the shamans. | The beautiful traditional Sami pin representing the sun. Native earth-based religion has given way to Lutheran beliefs. | A traditional Sami kota, sometimes covered with furs and skins, on the grounds of the Siida Museum in Inari. |
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A museum worker gathers large birch branches for Midsummer's Day decorations. |
| A traditional Sami fishing boat. | A small Sami cemetery on the grounds of the museum | ||
