8 Seasons

In the destination Kittelfjäll, the Sámi village has its winter and summer grazing areas, and during the autumn or spring winter, the reindeer are moved. At certain times, it is particularly important for the reindeer to have peace and quiet, especially during calving periods and similar.

With an increasing number of visitors staying in the destination throughout the year, new movement patterns arise as visitors move in areas where reindeer herding is taking place. For example, during spring winter, snowmobile traffic is shut down during certain periods to avoid disturbing the reindeer, but some visitors can still go on tours with skis. This sometimes creates conflicts between visitors and the industry, where visitors do not always understand the reindeer's needs.

We believe that these conflicts often arise from ignorance among our visitors, who are not familiar with our local nature and culture and do not understand the reindeer's movement patterns or a reindeer herder's daily life. They may not know that our local Sámi village has its reindeer in certain parts of the area during certain periods, and they are not aware of the reindeer's need for seclusion during calving. This can lead to misunderstandings and discussions about why visitors cannot move freely in the area.

We have had a dialogue with Vilhelmina Norra Sámi village and, in consultation, identified a need to increase knowledge and understanding of the industry in the area. Therefore, we want to develop informational material around the 8 seasons that tells about a reindeer herder's daily life and experiences, as well as the different seasons and what happens during that season in reindeer herding. 

From the Project Application

”Long-term goals are that the project should have contributed to spreading and increasing knowledge and understanding of the right of public access, local culture and nature, as well as awareness of the value of outdoor life for both visitors and holiday home owners in the area.”