Year of Reindeer – Sustainable Rovaniemi blog series 4/4

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, where our local people tell their arctic lifestyle stories.

Winter of reindeer

“When Christmas time arrives and snow covers get thicker, Miia and her family begin to gather the reindeer to roundups for winter feeding.”

When snow covers the grounds of Rovaniemi Lapland it is time to get ready for the travel season. It is the busiest time of the year with customers at the Arctic Reindeer Farm. When Christmas time arrives and snow covers get thicker, Miia and her family begin to gather the reindeer to roundups for winter feeding. In the high season the whole family pinches in and Miia´s brother spends his days in the forests with the reindeer and sister Elisa helps with the feeding, as Miia looks after the farm customers.

Even during the reindeer pasture time, when the reindeer forage on their own, Miia and her family are never too far away in case a reindeer gets ill or needs a special diet. They arrange feed and fresh hay for the reindeer. “This year the spring storms arranger a feast for the reindeer and shook the hanging moss and lichen sticks from the trees, down for the reindeer to feast on the snowy forest floor.

“Herder woman in Lapland is not so uncommon these days.”

Reindeer herding is heavy work, the roundups demand for a strong physic Miia explains. A herder must stay in shape and make sure that all herders physical working conditions are within the capacities and requirements of the worker. Miia´s life is divided between two jobs she runs a travel company and works as a herder. Instead of a cinnamon bun scented life Miia chooses a life of herder. Where her home might not be spotless, but Miia does everything with her children.

Herder woman in Lapland is not so uncommon these days as one might think. Miia remembers how in her childhood, her brother was always encouraged to all tasks, yet she was looked as a girl, not able to take on arduous work. But this is all in the past, the herding culture has evolved in to gender neutral. We are all herders, here because of love for nature and reindeer. The long days may be hard on the physic but refreshing for the mind, a source of energy and happiness.

Miia sees a bright future for her family and reindeer herding in Lapland. She sees her children getting a good education and taking their roles at the reindeer farm. The reindeer herding cooperatives are generating better and more sustainable ways of herding, and the answer for a more sustainable herder life is a considerate view between city planning and herder cooperatives.

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.

Missed the third part of Year of Reindeer?  Look at the  previous blogs below: