How Reindeer Herders Cope with Harsh Winter Conditions in Northern Finland:Insights from an Interview Study
Reindeer herding involves hard physical work carried out in a cold climate under variable weather conditions. In the fall and winter, herders’ work in northern Finland includes collecting and moving reindeer herds to round-up sites, working in round-ups, slaughtering and processing meat as well as d...
Published in: | ARCTIC |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2021
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://research.ulapland.fi/fi/publications/4e020250-9075-4e81-8a9b-3a9e819baf74 https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic72667 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85108640975&partnerID=8YFLogxK http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85108640975&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
id |
ftulaplandcdispu:oai:lacris.ulapland.fi:publications/4e020250-9075-4e81-8a9b-3a9e819baf74 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftulaplandcdispu:oai:lacris.ulapland.fi:publications/4e020250-9075-4e81-8a9b-3a9e819baf74 2024-04-28T08:03:58+00:00 How Reindeer Herders Cope with Harsh Winter Conditions in Northern Finland:Insights from an Interview Study Turunen, Minna Soppela, Päivi Ocobock, Cara 2021-06-08 https://research.ulapland.fi/fi/publications/4e020250-9075-4e81-8a9b-3a9e819baf74 https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic72667 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85108640975&partnerID=8YFLogxK http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85108640975&partnerID=8YFLogxK eng eng https://research.ulapland.fi/fi/publications/4e020250-9075-4e81-8a9b-3a9e819baf74 info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Turunen , M , Soppela , P & Ocobock , C 2021 , ' How Reindeer Herders Cope with Harsh Winter Conditions in Northern Finland : Insights from an Interview Study ' , Arctic : journal of the Arctic Institute of North America , vol. 74 , no. 2 , 74 (2) , pp. 188-205 . https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic72667 Adaptation Coping strategy Interview Reindeer herding Winter climate /dk/atira/pure/person/fieldofscience2010/1/18/3 name=Plant biology microbiology virology article 2021 ftulaplandcdispu https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic72667 2024-04-08T00:01:25Z Reindeer herding involves hard physical work carried out in a cold climate under variable weather conditions. In the fall and winter, herders’ work in northern Finland includes collecting and moving reindeer herds to round-up sites, working in round-ups, slaughtering and processing meat as well as daily feeding and monitoring of the animals in the field. To study the experiences and perceptions of coping with cold among physically active herders in harsh winter conditions, we interviewed 22 herders from six herding districts of the central reindeer management area within the north boreal coniferous forest zone. We focused on behavioral and cultural strategies that accompany the physiological cold adaptations. Semi-structured interviews revealed that the main behavioral and cultural strategies used by herders to successfully carry out their duties while avoiding cold-related injury include clothing, physical activity, nutrition, and shelter as well as protecting vehicles and devices. Herders across sex, age, and herding district reported using modern layered clothing developed for extreme conditions, often combined with traditional footwear and clothes made of reindeer fur or woollen fabric. In addition, herders increase their physical activity; eat warm, energy-rich foods; make fires; stay overnight or take breaks in a house or a cabin, a car, or other protected places to reduce exposure to the harsh environment. Coping with extreme conditions not only requires flexibility, preparedness, and innovation from the herders but also thoughtful caution when approaching and managing unexpected situations. We conclude that modernization of reindeer husbandry, climate change, and rapidly increasing land use competition not only drive herders to modify their behavioral and cultural coping mechanisms for extreme weather conditions but may also create new, unexpected vulnerabilities. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Northern Finland reindeer husbandry LaCRIS - University of Lapland Current Research System ARCTIC 74 2 188 205 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
LaCRIS - University of Lapland Current Research System |
op_collection_id |
ftulaplandcdispu |
language |
English |
topic |
Adaptation Coping strategy Interview Reindeer herding Winter climate /dk/atira/pure/person/fieldofscience2010/1/18/3 name=Plant biology microbiology virology |
spellingShingle |
Adaptation Coping strategy Interview Reindeer herding Winter climate /dk/atira/pure/person/fieldofscience2010/1/18/3 name=Plant biology microbiology virology Turunen, Minna Soppela, Päivi Ocobock, Cara How Reindeer Herders Cope with Harsh Winter Conditions in Northern Finland:Insights from an Interview Study |
topic_facet |
Adaptation Coping strategy Interview Reindeer herding Winter climate /dk/atira/pure/person/fieldofscience2010/1/18/3 name=Plant biology microbiology virology |
description |
Reindeer herding involves hard physical work carried out in a cold climate under variable weather conditions. In the fall and winter, herders’ work in northern Finland includes collecting and moving reindeer herds to round-up sites, working in round-ups, slaughtering and processing meat as well as daily feeding and monitoring of the animals in the field. To study the experiences and perceptions of coping with cold among physically active herders in harsh winter conditions, we interviewed 22 herders from six herding districts of the central reindeer management area within the north boreal coniferous forest zone. We focused on behavioral and cultural strategies that accompany the physiological cold adaptations. Semi-structured interviews revealed that the main behavioral and cultural strategies used by herders to successfully carry out their duties while avoiding cold-related injury include clothing, physical activity, nutrition, and shelter as well as protecting vehicles and devices. Herders across sex, age, and herding district reported using modern layered clothing developed for extreme conditions, often combined with traditional footwear and clothes made of reindeer fur or woollen fabric. In addition, herders increase their physical activity; eat warm, energy-rich foods; make fires; stay overnight or take breaks in a house or a cabin, a car, or other protected places to reduce exposure to the harsh environment. Coping with extreme conditions not only requires flexibility, preparedness, and innovation from the herders but also thoughtful caution when approaching and managing unexpected situations. We conclude that modernization of reindeer husbandry, climate change, and rapidly increasing land use competition not only drive herders to modify their behavioral and cultural coping mechanisms for extreme weather conditions but may also create new, unexpected vulnerabilities. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Turunen, Minna Soppela, Päivi Ocobock, Cara |
author_facet |
Turunen, Minna Soppela, Päivi Ocobock, Cara |
author_sort |
Turunen, Minna |
title |
How Reindeer Herders Cope with Harsh Winter Conditions in Northern Finland:Insights from an Interview Study |
title_short |
How Reindeer Herders Cope with Harsh Winter Conditions in Northern Finland:Insights from an Interview Study |
title_full |
How Reindeer Herders Cope with Harsh Winter Conditions in Northern Finland:Insights from an Interview Study |
title_fullStr |
How Reindeer Herders Cope with Harsh Winter Conditions in Northern Finland:Insights from an Interview Study |
title_full_unstemmed |
How Reindeer Herders Cope with Harsh Winter Conditions in Northern Finland:Insights from an Interview Study |
title_sort |
how reindeer herders cope with harsh winter conditions in northern finland:insights from an interview study |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://research.ulapland.fi/fi/publications/4e020250-9075-4e81-8a9b-3a9e819baf74 https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic72667 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85108640975&partnerID=8YFLogxK http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85108640975&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
genre |
Arctic Northern Finland reindeer husbandry |
genre_facet |
Arctic Northern Finland reindeer husbandry |
op_source |
Turunen , M , Soppela , P & Ocobock , C 2021 , ' How Reindeer Herders Cope with Harsh Winter Conditions in Northern Finland : Insights from an Interview Study ' , Arctic : journal of the Arctic Institute of North America , vol. 74 , no. 2 , 74 (2) , pp. 188-205 . https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic72667 |
op_relation |
https://research.ulapland.fi/fi/publications/4e020250-9075-4e81-8a9b-3a9e819baf74 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic72667 |
container_title |
ARCTIC |
container_volume |
74 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
188 |
op_container_end_page |
205 |
_version_ |
1797574930184798208 |