Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change?
This paper inquires whether reindeer herders’ traditional knowledge (TK) provides a reservoir of precaution and adaptation possibilities that may be relevant to counteract climate change. As our core example, we used the milking of reindeer—which, in some areas, was practiced up until the 1950s–1960...
Published in: | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
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Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10037/19107 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17166002 |
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ftunivtroemsoe:oai:munin.uit.no:10037/19107 2023-05-15T17:40:07+02:00 Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change? Riseth, Jan Åge Tømmervik, Hans Tryland, Morten 2020-08-18 https://hdl.handle.net/10037/19107 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17166002 eng eng MDPI International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Riseth JÅ, Tømmervik H, Tryland M. Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change? . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020 FRIDAID 1823832 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17166002 1660-4601 https://hdl.handle.net/10037/19107 openAccess Copyright 2020 The Author(s) VDP::Agriculture and fishery disciplines: 900::Agriculture disciplines: 910::Livestock breeding rearing reproduction: 912 VDP::Landbruks- og Fiskerifag: 900::Landbruksfag: 910::Husdyravl oppdrett forplantning: 912 Journal article Tidsskriftartikkel Peer reviewed publishedVersion 2020 ftunivtroemsoe https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17166002 2021-06-25T17:57:36Z This paper inquires whether reindeer herders’ traditional knowledge (TK) provides a reservoir of precaution and adaptation possibilities that may be relevant to counteract climate change. As our core example, we used the milking of reindeer—which, in some areas, was practiced up until the 1950s–1960s—and the risk of getting foot rot disease (digital necrobacillosis; slubbo in North Sámi), caused by the bacterium Fusobacterium necrophorum. Via wounds or scratches, the bacterium creates an infection that makes the infected limb swell and, eventually, necrotize. The disease is often mortal in its final stage. Historically, female reindeer were gathered on unfenced milking meadows near herder tents or in small corrals, from early summer onward. When the soil was wet and muddy, the risk of developing digital necrobacillosis was considerable. Our sources included classical Sámi author/herder narratives, ethnographic and veterinary literature, and herder interviews. For this study, we conducted a qualitative review of the literature and carried out individual in-depth interviews with local knowledge holders. Our findings seem consistent: a documented prevention strategy was, in early summer, to move the reindeer to unused grazing land and to avoid staying too long in trampled and dirty grazing land. Contemporary climate change and winter uncertainty due to freeze–thaw cycles and ice-locked pastures challenge this type of strategy. Due to a lack of pasture resources, typical actions today include the increased use of supplementary feeding, which involves more gathering and handling of reindeer, higher animal density, challenging hygienic conditions, and stress, which all contribute to increased risks of contracting and transmitting diseases. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Sámi University of Tromsø: Munin Open Research Archive International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17 16 6002 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Tromsø: Munin Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftunivtroemsoe |
language |
English |
topic |
VDP::Agriculture and fishery disciplines: 900::Agriculture disciplines: 910::Livestock breeding rearing reproduction: 912 VDP::Landbruks- og Fiskerifag: 900::Landbruksfag: 910::Husdyravl oppdrett forplantning: 912 |
spellingShingle |
VDP::Agriculture and fishery disciplines: 900::Agriculture disciplines: 910::Livestock breeding rearing reproduction: 912 VDP::Landbruks- og Fiskerifag: 900::Landbruksfag: 910::Husdyravl oppdrett forplantning: 912 Riseth, Jan Åge Tømmervik, Hans Tryland, Morten Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change? |
topic_facet |
VDP::Agriculture and fishery disciplines: 900::Agriculture disciplines: 910::Livestock breeding rearing reproduction: 912 VDP::Landbruks- og Fiskerifag: 900::Landbruksfag: 910::Husdyravl oppdrett forplantning: 912 |
description |
This paper inquires whether reindeer herders’ traditional knowledge (TK) provides a reservoir of precaution and adaptation possibilities that may be relevant to counteract climate change. As our core example, we used the milking of reindeer—which, in some areas, was practiced up until the 1950s–1960s—and the risk of getting foot rot disease (digital necrobacillosis; slubbo in North Sámi), caused by the bacterium Fusobacterium necrophorum. Via wounds or scratches, the bacterium creates an infection that makes the infected limb swell and, eventually, necrotize. The disease is often mortal in its final stage. Historically, female reindeer were gathered on unfenced milking meadows near herder tents or in small corrals, from early summer onward. When the soil was wet and muddy, the risk of developing digital necrobacillosis was considerable. Our sources included classical Sámi author/herder narratives, ethnographic and veterinary literature, and herder interviews. For this study, we conducted a qualitative review of the literature and carried out individual in-depth interviews with local knowledge holders. Our findings seem consistent: a documented prevention strategy was, in early summer, to move the reindeer to unused grazing land and to avoid staying too long in trampled and dirty grazing land. Contemporary climate change and winter uncertainty due to freeze–thaw cycles and ice-locked pastures challenge this type of strategy. Due to a lack of pasture resources, typical actions today include the increased use of supplementary feeding, which involves more gathering and handling of reindeer, higher animal density, challenging hygienic conditions, and stress, which all contribute to increased risks of contracting and transmitting diseases. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Riseth, Jan Åge Tømmervik, Hans Tryland, Morten |
author_facet |
Riseth, Jan Åge Tømmervik, Hans Tryland, Morten |
author_sort |
Riseth, Jan Åge |
title |
Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change? |
title_short |
Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change? |
title_full |
Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change? |
title_fullStr |
Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change? |
title_sort |
spreading or gathering? can traditional knowledge be a resource to tackle reindeer diseases associated with climate change? |
publisher |
MDPI |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/10037/19107 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17166002 |
genre |
North Sámi |
genre_facet |
North Sámi |
op_relation |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Riseth JÅ, Tømmervik H, Tryland M. Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change? . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020 FRIDAID 1823832 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17166002 1660-4601 https://hdl.handle.net/10037/19107 |
op_rights |
openAccess Copyright 2020 The Author(s) |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17166002 |
container_title |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
container_volume |
17 |
container_issue |
16 |
container_start_page |
6002 |
_version_ |
1766140937312927744 |