In Sweden there are 20 000 Sami living in 51 Sami communities. The Mattsson family runs Njarka which is part of the Kall Sami community. It is Sweden’s smallest Sami community with 1400 reindeer and six reindeer farming companies.
Njarka Sami camp is situated on a peninsular in Lake Häggsjön, Åre Municipality, Jämtland. Reindeer wander freely among the traditional Sami huts and in the forest. It is a very peaceful place – Sami people have always been drawn to harmonious places.
Photographer: Tina Stafrén
Here you can join the Sami people in their everyday activities and learn about their culture; their handicrafts and clothing, how they manage their reindeer and their way of life. Try everything from lasso throwing to baking in the embers of the fire.
Photographer: Tina Stafrén
The reindeer play a key part in Sami culture. They provide the Sami people with meat and leather and their antlers are used for making knife handles and jewellery. It is commonly believed that all Sami are reindeer farmers, but even historically Sami have lived on fishing or other activities. Today Sami work with everything from tourism to clothes design and the media. Most Sami have the same kind of jobs as the rest of the population.
We gathered in one of the huts at Njarka earlier today and listened to many stories about the Sami people while tasting their bread baked using reindeer blood, different cuts of reindeer meat with flatbread and some coffee.
Photographer: Tina Stafrén
Photographer: Tina Stafrén
A memorable experience and I would happily return to try some more activites in the Njarka Sami camp.