{"id":2448,"date":"2026-04-01T08:22:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T08:22:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitalta.no\/en\/?post_type=article&p=2448"},"modified":"2025-10-23T08:28:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T08:28:16","slug":"this-is-how-the-sami-live-today-a-combination-of-tradition-and-present","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/visitalta.no\/en\/article\/this-is-how-the-sami-live-today-a-combination-of-tradition-and-present\/","title":{"rendered":"This is how the Sami live today: a combination of tradition and present"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\tEveryday life in the Sami community today is characterized by a combination of modern solutions and old traditions.\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n

Reindeer herding in S\u00e1pmi is governed by the rhythm of nature<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Reindeer herding, which is guided by the rhythm of nature and the animals’ needs, is central. Yet everyday life looks different than it did just a few decades ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe reindeer have always directed our daily work. It is still like that today,\u201d says Nils Henrik Sara, who has worked with reindeer all his life. He took over the herd at the age of 15 and has been an active reindeer herder for more than 50 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nils Henrik has been a reindeer herder for more than 50 years. Photo: The Film Agency Copenhagen\/Visit Alta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Reindeer herding has changed with the times. In the past, reindeer were both a means of transportation and a source of livelihood, while today technology has taken over many of the tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 When I started reindeer herding, the focus was only on the reindeer. The snowmobile was the first step towards a more modern everyday life, he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technology and tradition side by side<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Today, drones, GPS and helicopters are used to follow and gather the herd. Daughter Inga Laila says that technology makes the work easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, both father and daughter point out challenges with the technological aids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 The animals are more stressed by the traffic with drones and helicopters. It is not necessarily all for the better. You lose a bit of freedom, both for the animals and for ourselves, when you can keep an eye on the animals all the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\t

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