Káffidit Arramat T5 -Arctic Ingenuity and Reindeer's Expertise - Decolonizing Science and Education

Káffidit Arramat T5 -Arctic Ingenuity and Reindeer's Expertise - Decolonizing Science and Education Buoris boahtem - welcome to the Káffidit - coffee talks series, organised by Arramat Pathway T5 - Decolonization of Science and Education, co-based at CEMFOR. Henrik Anderson What the reindeer know, and how I/we know what they know: The reindeer as Arctic expert and teacher since millennia Henrik Andersson, born in 1980, has been a full-time reindeer herder since he was fifteen. Like the vast majority of reindeer herders, he began learning within his family in early childhood. Knowledge and expertise are transferred from generation to generation, buolvas buolvváj. Reindeer herding is practied around the Arctic circumpolar region, upheld by 24 different Peoples. The semi-domestication of the reindeer is considered to be dating back at least 2- 3000 years, possibly longer. The reindeer made human livelihood possible in the harsh cold Arctic region. A close relationship was developed, still deeply valued today. The reindeer was important for transports, for clothes and food and is also an important part of Sámi mythology. The Flakaberg – or Várre – family group, sijdda in the Gällivare (Váhtjer) forest sámi village – have been reindeer herders since several centuries, possibly millennia. There are traces of Sámi reindeer herding and relationships with the lands in both historical records and in the landscape. Swedish official records show that they have been practising reindeer herding since at least the 17 century. Furthermore, on their territory, there is a sacrificial site named Unna Sájvva, first excavated in 1915. The metal objects including coins, date to the 10th century, while animal bone finds date back to the 6th century. Thus, there is a long history of relationship with the remarkable animal that is the reindeer. In his presentation Henrik shares some of his knowledge on the reindeer, and the reindeer’ s own expertise to live and thrive in the Arctic, and talk about how he himself has learned. EN: We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada's New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF), NFRFT-2020-00188. FR : Nous reconnaissons le soutien du gouvernement du Canada par l'entremise du fonds Nouvelles frontières en recherche (FNFR), NFRFT-2020-00188.