Reindeer Blog

A recent study published in the International Journal for Circumpolar Health concluded that reindeer herding Sami in Sweden, most particularly men, were more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than others.  Entitled “Depression and anxiety in the reindeer-herding Sami population of Sweden” , the objectives were to investigate symptoms and predicting factors of depression [...]

The Saami Council, the NGO that represents the Sami people in all four countries in which they live have released a strongly worded press release criticising the German bank KfW IPEX for their funding of a giant wind power project in Sami reindeer herding areas, in contravention of the OECD Convention on Multilateral Enterprises. In [...]

Between 2-400 reindeer have drowned in a river near Jokkmokk in northern Sweden after thin surface ice cracked while the herd were moving to their winter pastures. Reindeer herders in the region were taking around 3,000 animals across the river, a route that has been safely crossed on previous occasions. ”The ice suddenly gave way [...]

Heavy calves survive Preliminary results from Swedish University of Agriculture Sciences (SLU) by researcher Birgitta Åhman show there is a relationship between female reindeer condition, the weight of calves and calf survival. “This can help the herders in their choice of which reindeer should remain in the herd,” she says.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre will exploit Swedish leadership role in the EU and the Barents co-operation to get wider European interest in the North and the Arctic. – From a Norwegian point of view, it is interesting that Sweden in a few month, have the Presidency of both EU and Barents Cooperation. Wednesday [...]

On Wednesday, October 7th, the Ministers of Agriculture in Norway and Sweden signed the new Norwegian-Swedish Reindeer Grazing Convention. The Convention contains provisions for how reindeer herding is conducted over the border. The background to the negotiations is that the 1972 Reindeer Grazing Convention expired in 2005 and had to be replaced with a new [...]

(Press Release, Saami Council) The Saami people say a mining project in Northeastern Sweden, proposed by a Canadian company, threatens their traditional way of life and violates their basic human rights, as recognized by the United Nations. On 31 August 2009, Blackstone Ventures Inc., a Vancouver-based mining company, announced plans to begin test-drilling for minerals [...]

War games in the North were in the news in Scandinavia this last week, when Operation Loyal Arrow took place between June 8-18. 800-900 exercise participants from Germany, Finland, the United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey and the United States as well as NATO’s airborne early warning component participated. Two issues were of [...]

(pic: Carl-Johan Utsi) Per-Erik Marsja from Girjas Sami village and the leader of the Association of Swedish Reindeer Herders, Per-Gustav Idivuoma, submitting the application to Gällivare District Court. The Sami Radio in Sweden reports that Girjas Sami village together with the Association of the Swedish Reindeer Herders yesterday left in a lawsuit against the Swedish [...]

  The documentary ‘Herdwoman’ by Kine Boman tells the stories of  three Sami reindeer herding women in Sweden of different generations and their lives with the reindeer herds. Their thoughts, dreams and memories show their view of lifes essential values. When a court case questions their ancient rights to reindeer pasture their life as reindeer keepers [...]