The new wave of positive impact experiences in North Finland finally allows the artist shepherds of the Sami community to benefit from the rise of tourism.
Artists gather around Raisa Kitty When he enters the lawn, he puts his big and velvet noses in the slet and pulls the food completely. When she spreads spiral particles, they jog behind them, but do not show the same presence when she takes a little bright green algae. “This is your chocolate“, Kitty says, while the three big nipples were torn off from their hands.” They like it. “
Kitty presents many animals by name and personality. “This is the biggest boss“, He says, a white leather artist and pointing to a sprinkled cornis.”Scratch under the cheek“He adds a demonstration.” This younger is like a chilli, do you know? Small but very strong. “
Kitty and her husband are lovingly running Reinde 400 years of growing reinde. This is homeland Sami, the people living in Labia. For centuries they have been grazing the artman reindeer and used all parts of the animal: wearing corn and leather dress for meat, bones and tools.
Again for false information on Sami culture
Today, Kalaman also attracts tourists, and Kitty takes small groups to the farm, feeding the flock and teaching about the culture of Sami. It also offers culinary classes and workshops, and Teach visitors to make jewelry and memories with reindeer skins.
Family businesses like Kalaman farm are part of a new wave Positive impacting experiences In Finnish Lafia, this finally allows Sammy to benefit from the rise of tourism.
For decades, ruled by non -Sami companies sold The corrupted image of the life of this community. Iglas and slates thrown by the Haskal dominate the publications, although none of them are the traditional part of the Sami culture, but they are imported from North America.
This tourism has not only benefited the Sami community, but it has seriously affected it Occupy pasture areas and spread misconceptions. However, in recent years, Sami has recovered the story of their own history.
Inari: Sami’s cultural heart
Prima Fasi, Inner townOf the 650 people, it seems a little more than two supermarkets and a few dozen houses on the banks of a large lake. However, it is considered The cultural capital of the finger of the Sami population of FinlandSami is the headquarters of the Parliament and the most complete ethnic museum of the country.
Sami de Lido Museum, 2022 and Awarded the European Museum Award of the Year In 2024, it is an essential stop to understand the culture of Sami. Through impressive photos, domestic objects, clothing and interactive panels, the museum leads viewers over the history and art of art. Introduces them Lifestyle and culture In today’s population, Kalaman from pasture to music and art.
Exhibitions show a culture deeply Rooted in tradition, formed with time. Next to the skateboard painted with Sami designs, a car keys hanging with the artist’s bone, a poster, is reading a poster: “Sometimes criticism for accepting Sammy ‘foreign influences’ … but what if this is simply something to do?” The concept of inappropriate tone directly into question The original cultures must be frozen At the time of the entertainment of the audience.
Sami tells their own story
“Sami is a real story that tells them what they want. A story that is attached to the present is not only in the past, but unlike most stereotypes,” Parliamentary Sami’s Project Coordinator explains, he plays a decisive role in many Fixed tourist efforts.
Sami has been struggling with cultural exploitation for decades, Sumi explains. -90s in the middle of and again in 2008, Activists protested against Finn no Sami They wore Sami likeness to entertain tourists. This procedure is pre -1950 Elinor visited the Roosevelt Arctic Circle. Local authorities rushed to build a “Sami” city for him, and wooden rooms and actors wore cheap copies from Sami’s clothing.
Over time, those wooden rooms were replaced The people of Santa ClausDad’s father, artist and various “Sami” experiences. This isolated place in the Arctic Circle near Rovanimi became one of the most popular tourist attractions of Labia More than 500,000 visitors per year.
However, in hundreds of businesses that serve tourists, fewer than half a dozen are guided by the Sami community. Visitors are paying Husky Walks and Shamanic Drum ShowsUnbeknownst to the fact that they see the real Sami culture.
Protocol guidelines to help tourists choose the reason for the reason
To fight this common misconception, Sumi led a parliamentary plan in 2018 to define Ethical Guidelines for Travel SAMI.
Advertisement“We took an example of Australia already in Australia and changed it to the Finnish terrain,” he explains. These guidelines help the audience to understand how to relate to a respectable way with the culture of Sami, for example, highlight Traditional Sami dresses are not tourist attractions And they should not be photographed without permission.
They also prevent tourists to occupy private land or Camp in the pasture areas of art. “Visitors forget that people are not tourist attractions,” says Sumi. “They pretend to be themselves even in the funeral, and photograph families with traditional clothes.”
Chandi is now developing a certificate plan to help tourists to identify the SAMI -led protocol business. The program, Nextgeneration fundIn May, the European Conference on Domestic Tourism will be announced by Parliament Sami de Inari.
This will be the first event of this type, and will unite the tourism representatives of Finland, Norway, Sweden and Greenland. Certificate to help To choose with the knowledge of the reason for the tourists It also provides selection for companies such as Artist Farm Farm In a small scale and stable Share the true knowledge of Sami’s life.
AdvertisementMany tourists prefer more ethical experiences
Kitty realizes that many visitors are looking for this type of experience. “People are increasingly aware that it is not good to pretend to be a shaman with some artistic skins,” he says. “Our visitors want to learn our life and our culture“.
In the meantime, his tourist business refers to an economic opportunity for his family. The income it creates helps their artist to take care and protect their lifestyle. However, Kitty and Sumi are fighting a hard war, and I feel when I enter a big memories on my last day in Iri.
In a bus shop full of tourists Santa Claus, Christmas ornamentsAnd “Labonia Shaman” toys. Competition boxes show photos of those who wear wrong Sami dresses. The Husseys appear in postcards, stuffed animals, cupsEven magnets and livestock, another importance of the North American Indigenous cultures. Expired stereotypes are already selling for anyone who has some euros in their pocket.
