Living with reindeer tours
FOREST SÁMI REINDEER HERDER FAMILY
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Spend a day in the wild with a reindeer herd and herders
Near Christmas time, when the reindeer roundups are over, we gather our reindeer close to where we live so that we can feed them during the winter time when the snow is thick. Our reindeer graze freely in the forests and swamplands where they can dig out food and live a healthy, natural life.
Reindeer herder's life is full of great moments. When sitting at an open fire next to a swamp, surrounded by reindeer, I've started to think that I would like to share these beautiful moments with other people - midwinter frost, beautiful colours of polar nights, northern lights, and shimmering spring snow. The reindeer are curious about human visitors and they often come and lie down close to the fire and people.
Tours available: December 15th - March 31st
Interested? Watch the video and click below to learn more about the tour
A day with a reindeer herder family
My name is Jenni Kaaretkoski, and I am a reindeer herder and a mother of two. I live in the Sattasniemi reindeer herding district in Sodankylä, Finnish Lapland. I am a ninth-generation reindeer herder, continuing a tradition that has been part of my family for centuries. My family lives in the small village of Kersilö, where our roots run deep. Living with reindeer is unique, and in these swamplands and deep forests, no two days are alike. Emotions can run high, and nothing is ever certain. There are no nine-to-five schedules in this line of work. What matters most is getting the job done.
The roots of my family lie deep along the riverbanks of Kersilö, close to the Pomokaira wilderness. Our family history can be traced back to the early 17th century, but as my father always says, our origins lie in the pinewood logs. Reindeer herding has been an integral part of our family life for hundreds of years, ever since it became established in this area. Its roots reach back to the traditional culture of deer hunting.
Forest Sámi culture remains strong in my family. Reindeer herding, handicrafts, and gathering traditions have been passed down from generation to generation, providing us with the knowledge and skills needed to live in this land. Together with my husband, I continue these traditions through our shared work and by creating products inspired by our way of life, our cultural heritage, and the natural environment around us. For us, making products is another way of carrying our traditions forward and sharing a part of our world with others.
Our life is still deeply rooted in a culture of self-sufficiency and living off the land — hunting, fishing, picking berries, and harvesting hay. Winters are long and cold, with plenty of snow, so being self-sufficient is essential. Our lives follow the rhythms of nature and the reindeer. The reindeer herding year begins in early June, when the calves are born. This marks the start of a new year, guided by the changing seasons and the natural conditions of the land.