Sunday 1/25/15
Found out today that Jokkmokk comes from the Sami word for river bend because the first building in the village was built on the bend.
We saw the northern lights!! Every night we've been walking out the a nearby lake to look at the stars and hopes to see aurora borealis. They were so beautiful I was speechless. It is near impossible to describe in words so here are some pictures. Thank goodness we have two boys on our trip into photography who were able to capture the moment.
Monday 1/26/15
Today we had class at the Sami School two blocks from our hostel. Our classroom was named Soahki which means birch in Sami. The birch is and was an important part of Sami life and culture. We met a teacher of the school and introduced ourselves. After lunch we took tours of the handicraft classrooms.
The school is similar to a technical school in the US. It is optional and some attend it after the equivalent of our high school. It is two years to learn soft craft like making clothes and two years to learn hard craft like carving knives. Most Sami students attend to simply learn the craft and a few plan to make a profession out of it. Their works will be sold at the upcoming Winter Market. It was fascinating to learn who they make their handicrafts or duodji. They use antlers, birch, copper etc. The students go out in the autumn to collect their materials.
One observation I have made is that any Swede, or Sami, love to talk politics. If you get into a conversation that lasts more than five minutes you can guarantee they will ask you about it. Our dogsled tour guide discussed Sami rights and history. At the school the Sami students asked us if we had problems with mines in the US like they are having in Sápmi. The state imposed mines in the area disrupt the land and reindeer herding, like in the town Kiruna which is being moved because of the mine
At night our entire group watched The Interview. I love that we all get along and can spontaneously get together and hang out. We got lucky.
Tuesday 1/27/15
Today we met another Sami named Lars-Anders Baer. He is a loyal was a member of Sami Parliament. He took us to the Ájtte museum four blocks from our hostel. It is an amazing place! As a museum its exhibits are fantastic about the area and people's culture. The tour guide gave us examples of traditional sami artifacts and we had to guess what they were used for. It included reindeer harnesses, clothing and tools. They had several interactive games and exhibits. They had a sled race and a "guess the tree, bird
and rock" game.
After lunch we took a tour of the municipal building for Jokkmokk and got a lecture on local politics. Then we had a lecture by Lars about Sami culture. What is neat is that a citizen of the area is able to speak Sami to their officials (notice the three languages on the sign: Swedish, North Sami, Luleå Sami)
Wednesday 1/28/15
Today Lars took us on a bus tour towards the Norwegian border.
Found out today that Jokkmokk comes from the Sami word for river bend because the first building in the village was built on the bend.
We saw the northern lights!! Every night we've been walking out the a nearby lake to look at the stars and hopes to see aurora borealis. They were so beautiful I was speechless. It is near impossible to describe in words so here are some pictures. Thank goodness we have two boys on our trip into photography who were able to capture the moment.
me, kenzie, walley
Monday 1/26/15
Today we had class at the Sami School two blocks from our hostel. Our classroom was named Soahki which means birch in Sami. The birch is and was an important part of Sami life and culture. We met a teacher of the school and introduced ourselves. After lunch we took tours of the handicraft classrooms.
The school is similar to a technical school in the US. It is optional and some attend it after the equivalent of our high school. It is two years to learn soft craft like making clothes and two years to learn hard craft like carving knives. Most Sami students attend to simply learn the craft and a few plan to make a profession out of it. Their works will be sold at the upcoming Winter Market. It was fascinating to learn who they make their handicrafts or duodji. They use antlers, birch, copper etc. The students go out in the autumn to collect their materials.
One observation I have made is that any Swede, or Sami, love to talk politics. If you get into a conversation that lasts more than five minutes you can guarantee they will ask you about it. Our dogsled tour guide discussed Sami rights and history. At the school the Sami students asked us if we had problems with mines in the US like they are having in Sápmi. The state imposed mines in the area disrupt the land and reindeer herding, like in the town Kiruna which is being moved because of the mine
At night our entire group watched The Interview. I love that we all get along and can spontaneously get together and hang out. We got lucky.
Tuesday 1/27/15
Today we met another Sami named Lars-Anders Baer. He is a loyal was a member of Sami Parliament. He took us to the Ájtte museum four blocks from our hostel. It is an amazing place! As a museum its exhibits are fantastic about the area and people's culture. The tour guide gave us examples of traditional sami artifacts and we had to guess what they were used for. It included reindeer harnesses, clothing and tools. They had several interactive games and exhibits. They had a sled race and a "guess the tree, bird
and rock" game.
Recreation of a sacrificial spot near a Sjetten, or sacred rock, at the museum.
A real sacred rock that a family worshipped at. It was stolen over 100 years ago and a museum in Stockholm, who didn't know how they obtained it, returned it to the Jokkmokk area.
After lunch we took a tour of the municipal building for Jokkmokk and got a lecture on local politics. Then we had a lecture by Lars about Sami culture. What is neat is that a citizen of the area is able to speak Sami to their officials (notice the three languages on the sign: Swedish, North Sami, Luleå Sami)
Me and Paget
For dinner we ate at a delicious Thai restaurant in the arctic circle!! To end the night we went to American Sniper at the local movie theater. Humorously a boy in front of us took a picture with flash of a woman on screen in her underwear. I'm curious what the Swedes thought about the movie?Wednesday 1/28/15
Today Lars took us on a bus tour towards the Norwegian border.
Here is a hydroelectric dam with Sami murals. Dams are a big part of the region. Most of the profit goes South to Stockholm but the Sami are directly impacted negatively with reduced lands for grazing and forced relocation. Power plants like this however help Sweden be a leader in green energy.
Reindeer!! They were all over the roads. They run all dopey just like Sven from Frozen.
fika on the bus!!
A traditional lunch. Not sure what it was exactly. Definitely involved pork and the sauce is from lingonberries which are really popular here. We ate at a cute tourist lodge in the mountains.
Me and Sidney
Lars-Anders Baer in his Seal coat and reindeer hide boots.
Naturum Laponia. This is an almost brand-new building that is now the world heritage center for the Laponia area. The area consist of four wild life reserves and is all around gorgeous. I would love to come back in the summer.
Hannah napping on the bus on the way home :)
Really enjoying the blog. Great pictures and commentary!
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