KNOWHOW: Sami handicrafts at

© DavidNutti Sami handicraft

SAMI HANDICRAFTS

AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

“A weary journey beyond the last scrub timber and straggling copses, into the heart of the Barrens where the niggard North is supposed to deny the earth, are to be found great sweeps of forest and smiling lands.” Jack London – In the Forests of the North. Children of the Frost.

THE SAMI PEOPLES OF LAPLAND INCLUDE THE FIRST INHABITANTS OF SWEDEN. THEIR ORIGINS DATE BACK TO THE END OF THE LAST ICE AGE SOME 10,000 YEARS AGO. THE TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE SAMI WERE ONCE FISHING AND REINDEER HERDING, BUT TODAY ONLY A MINORITY OF THE 85,000 SAMI PEOPLE CONTINUE TO PERFORM THESE ACTIVITIES. THE OTHERS, WHO ARE SPREAD OUT IN THE REGIONS OF FOUR COUNTRIES (SWEDEN, NORWAY, FINLAND AND RUSSIA) MAINLY LIVE OFF OF THEIR HANDICRAFTS.

Caribou © Saad Chaudhry

Where to find them: Carl Wennberg: Bergmästaregatan 2, 981 33, Kiruna, Sweden Svensk Hemslöjd: Norrlandsgatan 20, 111 44, Stockholm, Sweden Jokkmokkstenn: Järnvägsgatan 19, 962 32, Jokkmokk, Sweden.

Sami Art Handicraft handmade knives by Fredrik Prost © DavidNutti

Long-lasting workmanship and age-old traditions

Made from high-quality, natural, traditional materials, a Sami handcrafted item is an excellent gift that is both durable and environmentally friendly, two themes which are crucial to the survival of these indigenous peoples whose land is constantly being threatened in order to be exploited. Sami slöjd, or handicraft, is divided into two categories, hard handicrafts and soft handicrafts. The first, which is traditionally reserved for men, primarily consists of knives, bowls and cups with engraved reindeer horn. Meanwhile, the second is traditionally for women and includes wool clothing, tin wire jewellery, and bags and baskets woven from birch roots.

Where to buy Sami handicrafts

Sami handicraft items can be purchased in the northern regions of Sweden and mainly in the towns and villages of Lapland. If you are in Kiruna, the largest town in Lapland, visit the Carl Wennberg shop, which has been selling Sami handicrafts since 1907. If you are in Stockholm, be sure to visit the retailer Svensk Hemslöjd specialising in traditional arts and crafts. If you are fortunate enough to be staying at the iconic ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, visit the hotel’s shop, which sells a wide selection of Sami items.

Jokkmokk winter market

The Jokkmokk winter market, held yearly in late January/early February, is a great place to find Sami handicrafts, as it is the largest Sami gathering in the world. This arts and crafts market has been taking place for the past 400 years. There is probably no better place to experience Sami culture and buy items directly from the local craftsperson. It is also a wonderful opportunity to discover their vivid clothing, music, dance and food, which are part of a colourful culture that is unfortunately being threatened by the modern world, despite the fact that the Sami people are recognised as an indigenous people by the UN with their own flag, anthem and official language divided into nine dialects.

Sami Art Handicraft handmade knives by Fredrik Prost © DavidNutti