Photo: Contiki
What’s better than snow and northern lights? Snow, northern lights, and reindeer! Our Norway Fjords and Northern Lights trip is definitely for those travellers that enjoy the cooler climates and the fresh mountain air, but even the most fervent beach-lovers and coconut-shell-cocktail-drinkers can’t turn their nose up at an opportunity like this. Because, on this trip, travellers will get the chance to meet Norway’s Indigenous Sámi people, learn about their culture and heritage, and meet the reindeer they take care of.
Reindeer herding is a generational tradition, passed down within Sámi families, and is a big part of their culture. While travelling through Norway with Contiki, globetrotters will get to participate in this eye-opening MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and interact with the fluffy reindeer as they graze along the snowy tundra. Feeding, petting, and chats with the Sámi herders are activities which all make for a really wholesome day.
Interested? Learn more about the experience below as we chatted to Johan, a Sámi reindeer herder, and Contiki travellers who had the chance to experience this first hand.
Hi Johan! Could you please tell us a little bit about reindeer herding?
“Working with the reindeer, to me, is a privilege, and it’s to be part of something bigger than yourself. There are a lot of aspects that go into working with the reindeer: there’s cooperation between herders, cooperation with the animals, and there’s also a respect and understanding for nature, because we have to work with the seasons and the land as well.”
“There’s a lot of learning involved, as well, and improvisation. If one plan or strategy doesn’t work we have to think of something else. There are good days and bad days, good years and bad years, challenges in the road, but, all of this together, combined, brings a lot of meaning to my life.”
How long has this job, or tradition, been in your family?
“It has been in my family for generations, and my father and grandfather took care of this herd before passing it on to me. It was something that I knew I wanted to do since I was four years old, and I hope to pass this down to my children too.”
Image source:Contiki
Why did you start your role in the tourism industry, and how has it affected your work and the herd?
“Growing up, reindeer, and this life, had always been a big interest and passion of mine, and also a natural part of my life. So, I am happy that people come to visit, and make it part of their natural life.”
“The first year we started, we had some visitors, you know, but not that many, but it was still nice to talk to them about the reindeer, about Sámi culture, and let them feed the animals. I was very happy, and it was something meaningful.”
“The most important part of this experience, though, is that it supports the reindeer, and it supports the Sámi community. Travellers visit, and they pay for the food which feeds the reindeer and, as this business has grown, we have been able to employ more and more people: young Sámi people to help out and make a living for themselves as well.”
How would you say climate change has affected the reindeer and the land?
“Climate change is one of the main reasons we do this now. You know, we take care of the reindeer, we feed them, and 30 or 40 years ago this wasn’t a necessity. The snow was soft, and it was easy for the reindeer to find food for themselves, but no, with climate change, the snow turns into ice and the ground is too hard. The reindeer struggle to get food and that’s where our responsibility for them comes in.”
“It affects us too, because when we have to feed the reindeer more it costs us more, but that’s where tourism comes in, you know? Like I said, we have people who visit, and by visiting they support us and the reindeer, and I am able to share my culture with travellers and teach them about the reindeer and Sámi people.”
Image source:Contiki
When Contiki travellers come to visit you and the Sámi people, what will they get to experience?
“A lot of learning. About the Sámi people and our culture and life, about the reindeer and what they need, and about Norway as well. Depending on the season and the weather, they will also be able to see the Northern lights!”
“There is also the feeding, and they get to meet the reindeer, which I hope they love.”
Is there anything that you hope they’ll take away with them?
“Hopefully a once in a lifetime experience – actually, no, I hope it’s an experience they’ll love and want to do again and again.”
“But, really, I hope they come away with lots of good memories and respect. Respect for nature, respect for the reindeer, and respect for the people. And I hope they really take the chance to learn something new and appreciate a different culture.”
“The travellers are always so interested to come and learn, which is good for us and makes us happy. So, lastly, I hope they know that through this, they have done something good for the people and the animals.”
We also spoke to Olivia, Jason, Kari, and Blair, Contiki travellers who recently visited Norway and the beautiful reindeer.
What would you say your favourite part of the trip has been?
“It’s been so wonderful getting to see all the reindeer, and understand how the Sámi protect them,” said Kari, a sentiment very much echoed by Jason and Olivia.
“Seeing the northern lights was breathtaking,” adds Jason, “but learning about the Sámi people and their culture and all their traditions that they pass down from one generation to the next was really, really cool and eye-opening.”
“Getting to meet the reindeer and feed them, definitely, but also getting to see and hear traditional Sámi joiking (singing), which was so interesting and so different,” says Olivia.
Image source:Contiki
What did you expect from this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience? What were you surprised to learn?
“Honestly, I didn’t really have many expectations coming in, I just didn’t know what it would be like, but this experience from start to finish was totally unreal,” says Blair. “What surprised me most to learn was that each reindeer herder has their own area in the mountain that’s theirs to look after, but that they all rely on each other and help out.”
“I definitely got more than I expected,” says Jason, and Kari continues, “It was so interesting to learn that each person in the Sámi community has their own joik, as well, which makes that tradition even more unique.”
Had you ever heard of the Sámi people before?
“No, I didn’t really have knowledge about the Sámi people, or any Indigenous peoples in Scandinavia before getting here, actually,” says Blair.
“Yeah, I’m the same, but it was so interesting to hear about their history and culture, their traditions, and how it all differs from the more mainstream Norwegian culture,” adds Kari.
Image source:Contiki
Did anything surprise you about the reindeer?
“Just how fearless they are!” says Jason.
“Yeah,” echoes Olivia, “They have a lot of character and they’re a lot more curious than I thought which was really funny and cool to see.”
