Beyond Rudolph: The Cultural Impacts of Reindeer Herding on the Sami
The reindeer is a quintessential symbol of the Sami, the indigenous people of Northern Scandinavia. Reindeer have always been integral to Sami culture, but they have not always had the same significance that they do now. In the 16th and 17th centuries, reindeer herding practices shifted from small-s...
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PDXScholar
2022
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| Online Access: | https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/younghistorians/2022/papers/12 https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1248&context=younghistorians |
| Summary: | The reindeer is a quintessential symbol of the Sami, the indigenous people of Northern Scandinavia. Reindeer have always been integral to Sami culture, but they have not always had the same significance that they do now. In the 16th and 17th centuries, reindeer herding practices shifted from small-scale domestication to large-scale reindeer herding and nomadism. This paper explores the political and cultural dynamics that surrounded this shift: pressure from encroaching settler nations, dwindling resources, and a loss of traditional practices. Ultimately, this shift irrevocably impacted Sami identity. Knowledge of the historical factors surrounding the transition to reindeer nomadism is essential to Sami cultural preservation and activism today. |
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