About reindeer management

When you visit Kiruna in Swedish Lapland and our rich countryside and culture, we kindly ask that you act responsibly and respectfully towards the wildlife, environment and culture. In that way, we can together ensure sustainable development with harmony between various enterprises and cultures.

Seven samebyar (Sámi communities) in Kiruna Municipality

Kiruna Municipality encompasses seven samebyar or Sámi communities: Könkämä, Saarivuoma, Lainiovuoma, Vittangi, Laevas, Gabna and Talma. A sameby is a geographical area where reindeer herding is carried out but also a kind of economic, administrative unit. Wherever you go and whatever you experience here, you will be on Sámi cultural land. Reindeer husbandry in its current form has been carried out in this region for hundreds of years. Reindeer herding is a central and very important industry in Sámi society. It is not only a means of having an income – it also serves to carry on an ancient cultural tradition and a Sámi identity. All Sámi communities have their own areas where their reindeer graze.

When spending time in the cultural landscape near reindeer, it is important to remember that the reindeer need peace and quiet when grazing, ruminating and resting. The reindeer cows, known as vajor, give birth to their calves in spring and early summer and during that time they are particularly sensitive to disturbance. If the reindeer are frightened, they can lose precious grazing time during the summer and this can lead to starvation and malnourishment during the long winter.

Annual cycle

Reindeer herding requires that the Sámi communities have access to various grazing areas. As the seasons change, reindeer migrate between different grazing areas depending on the availability of food. This means that reindeer herding is a nomadic activity where the herding Sámi follow the natural movements of the reindeer or gather the herds to drive them to the right grazing area. The regional landscape is used for grazing, migration and calving. Climate and natural resources, weather, vegetation and precipitation also affect reindeer herding.

The herding year begins in April and May. Calves are born and the vajor (female reindeer) seek areas with rich grazing pastures. June is a calm month as the reindeer recover after the long winter. The reindeer also begin migrating towards the higher mountains where there is plenty of food, fewer insects and some respite from the hot summer sun. Calf branding is also carried out during this period. The summer months are important to the reindeer as they build up muscle and layers of fat to survive the coming winter.

Before the start of the rutting season in September, reindeer herding Sámi gather the male reindeer (known as sarv) for slaughter. September and October mean the arrival of the first nights of frost and snow. The reindeer migrate to other areas to graze. In early winter, November and December, the reindeer migrate to their winter grazing areas. The herding Sámi gather them and split them into winter groups and slaughter groups. The winter groups are kept apart during the winter in order to utilise the grazing areas in the best possible way. If the winter pasturelands are meagre, emergency support feeding is sometimes needed. When the reindeer herding year ends in April, migration to the calving sites begins. The reindeer have natural ‘comfort zones’ where they often stay as herds. These natural areas shrink as other industries claim the land.