Reindeer Farm and Sami Museum

The indigenous group known as the Sami have a fascinating relationship with reindeer. The Sami are indigenous people living in the northernmost parts of Europe, in a region called Sapmi, which spans northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula in Russia. The Sami trace their lineage back to ancient peoples who have inhabited the region since after the Ice Age. Today, they are a minority group in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Russia. The Sami practice reindeer herding and migrate with their reindeer, living in large temporary tents called lavvu. For the Sami, reindeer are highly valuable, used for labor, food, clothing, and trade. Before the 17th century, reindeer were not domesticated; the Sami hunted wild reindeer for subsistence. Their needs were simple, hunting only for family consumption. Additionally, they hunted birds, fished, and gathered berries in the summer, causing minimal environmental impact. When we visited at around 5 PM, it was quite dark, and we couldn't see any reindeer. Instead, we walked around the museum, absorbing the Sami way of life and admiring the unique decorations of the indigenous people amidst the cold atmosphere. 😆😆 It was a different kind of experience.