Every year, at the end of winter, the Sámi people will drive their thousands of reindeer across northern Scandinavia, to new lands where living conditions are better. The reindeer migration is a huge journey, taking up to two months to complete.
Around 3,500 reindeer will be herded on the migration, and dozens of Sámi people will be travelling with them. The Sámi are an indigenous people of Scandinavia, scattered across snow-covered parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.
Traditionally, the Sámi people lived by coastal fishing, trapping, and sheep herding. Their most well-known livelihood is reindeer herding, with about 10% of them involved in this activity, with about 2,800 people engaged full-time.
For traditional, environmental, cultural and political reasons, reindeer herding is legally reserved for the Sámi in some parts of the Nordic countries. Reindeer meat is more delicious than beef and very expensive, so the Sámi do not usually kill reindeer but care for them. If a driver accidentally hits a reindeer, he or she will have to pay a lot of money in compensation.
The Sámi people's most valuable asset is their reindeer, so their migrations cannot be without the Sámi people who specialize in protecting and caring for them. They are fed hay, given water and medical care, ensuring they reach the new land safely.
