Year of Reindeer – Sustainable Rovaniemi blog series 2/4

Jenny Silvennoinen August 20, 2020

On Arctic Reindeer Farm, high above the Arctic Circle lives Miia Merkku, reindeer herder, a woman who decided to become a herder at the age of five. Reindeer play a major role in Miia´s life. Miia`s own wellbeing, is twined with the wellbeing of her reindeer. “I spend all my days with them in nature, their happiness makes me feel at peace” Miia says. Welcome to a Sustainable Rovaniemi blog series,

“Reindeer remember all details of all routes. If a simple thing is different, a twig on the bath is broken, they stop to evaluate the surroundings carefully”, Miia says.

During the spring nature is reborn, the days become brighter, and herders follow the movements of the herd. Miia explains that the changing of the climate causes uncertainty for the herds life, and they need to feed the herd two to three months longer than in the past years, due to exceptional fall and early winter conditions.

Snowy spring is time for teaching these wise animals to pull a sledge. Male calves are taught to walk beside their herder, and a year later they are ready to try pulling. “Reindeer are wise, when domesticated and after a joined trust between a reindeer and herder, they can learn at a first try. “On our rides they remember all details of all routes. If a simple thing is different, a twig on the bath is broken, they stop to evaluate the surroundings carefully”, Miia says.

By the end of May begins calving. The herders stay close by to provide safety to the herd but also to ensure the peace for the calf and its mother to create a bond, a very delicate but vital phase. Midsummer draws the herders deeper in to the forests. To fix the fencing and to gather the herd for nightly calf markings. Night-time provides cooler air for the reindeer to relax, this reduces the stress of the little calf. In July and August, the herder family gathers hay and leaf sheaves for the long winter. Summers in Lapland and on reindeer farms are relaxed, and it is time to take it easy for the herders as well.

First year of reindeer

Reindeer are semi wild nomadic animals of Lapland. The reindeer mother, called vaadin, teaches their calf many vital skills during their first year. Knowledge on where to find food in changing seasons, and areas with favourable conditions and vegetation are important survival skills.

As people expand their living spaces, it is down to the herders to lead their reindeer to new pastures. The knowledge about feeding areas, passed from the mothers to young calves is a strong bond that is now but to test. “One of the first challenges new reindeer face is urbanization. New buildings that stand in the herds familiar pasture. Phenomena causes conflicts between herders and new house owners. One act of sustainability is educating the locals on reindeer herd behaviour” Miia says. They herd their reindeer 9,3 miles up north from Rovaniemi city centre.

To be continued….

This is Miia Merkku´s story about her life as a reindeer herder woman. Welcome to a Sustainable Rovaniemi blog series, where our local people tell their arctic lifestyle stories.