According to the article, it is not known as to when the Sami became affiliated with reindeer. Some sources have reported that the Sami were using them back in 500 A.D. for transportation, and others tell of the Sami hunting reindeer in the 9th century A.D. However, it is known that between the 16th and 17th centuries the Sami began to domesticate reindeer and became nomads with them. As wild reindeer numbers decreased, the Sami decided to make reindeer herding their main trade. They increased the mounts they had in their herds to aid in this process. Sami reindeer herding is now divided into 51 different communities, with agreements on how the land is divided for each herd during the summer, spring, autumn, and winter. It is believed that there are now 900 active reindeer herders and 300,000 reindeer in the Swedish territories alone.
While the Sami that are known for reindeer herding are generally assumed to be from Sweden there are also others located across country borders. These others are living in Sami communities from Scandinavia (Russia) and Norway.
Reference:
Dirk SonniksenReindeer Herding in Sweden, http://www.utexas.edu/courses/sami/diehtu/siida/herding/herding-sw.htm,
Accessed July 21, 2013.
Reflection:
ReplyDeleteThe Sami are a people who, as times changed, have adapted to the differences in the world. While remaining their own separate people, with their own culture, they have continued to exist in a world that is ever expanding. When they noticed that wild reindeer herds were decreasing in size, they made sure to increase their own herds. This alone shows the agency that they were willing to take to keep their cultural practice going.
When thinking about their way of life, living as an independent group from most of the world, and herding reindeer, I never truly understood it. This may be due to ethnocentric views on my part, as I have grown up with American traditions my whole life. Of integrating yourself within multiple different groups, and only knowing "normal" jobs, none of which involved reindeer.
Personally, reindeer have always seemed to be something out of fiction, related to stories of Santa, as I have never seen one, nor heard of any people interacting with one. So, it was a bit of a culture shock to learn about the Sami and the close relationship they have with reindeer.