Sámi, the people who walk with reindeer (2007-2011)
Erika Larsen
Redux Pictures pour National Geographic Magazine
I came on a search to understand the primal drive of the modern hunter by taking an inclusive look at an original hunter-gatherer nomadic society. I came to find people who could interpret the language of the land when it speaks. I came in search of silence so that I could begin to hear again.
Every day in the Arctic, extremes play upon the lives of the Sámi, an indigenous group whose name means “the people.”
The Sámi, who live in the Arctic region of northern Scandinavia and Russia, the largest area in the world with a way of life following the seasonal migration of animals, are by tradition reindeer herders, living as nomads, but today only 10% still work in reindeer husbandry, a business now regulated by the European Union. With their livelihood dependent on their surroundings, the herders are acutely aware of changes to nature and specifically to the Arctic landscape.
My photographs explore the symbiotic relationship which Sámi herders have with their environment, and their existence in today’s world with links to their ancestral roots.
The work was done in Kautokeino, Norway and Gallivare, Sweden, where I worked as a beaga, or housekeeper, for a family of Sámi reindeer herders. I chose to immerse myself this way to gain a better understanding of what I was seeing and experiencing when creating the images. The actual image-making process was intuitive, but the process for understanding the culture required full immersion, working with the people, and listening to and learning the North Sámi language.
Preview
The spoken Sámi language, with Finno-Ugric roots, has evolved over time and is considered an Arctic language with a rich ability to explain the natural world.
The reindeer-herding Sámi remain largely removed from urban life, but straddle two worlds, tied to their historical roots while also acknowledging modern realities. They maintain a deep connection with nature and are still semi-nomadic, with little need for the world beyond the Arctic. Yet Sámi herders also embrace global connectedness, modern technology and popular culture.
Living with the Sámi, I have observed nature in its beauty and brutality. Through their lives, I hope to have a better understanding of our role as stewards of the earth, recognizing the cycles of life and death and the role people have to play.
The Sámi have managed to survive in extreme climatic circumstances, and as biodiversity, forest stability, water and wildlife management become increasingly important global concerns, this community will be vital to understanding sustainability in the Arctic region.
Erika Larsen
