TITLE: Reindeer calf branding in Swedish South Lapland

The following pictures were taken mainly among the family members belonging to the Vilhelmina southern Sami village wich is the southernmost mountain Sami village in Västerbotten County, Sweden. This Sami village consists of 20 reindeer herding companies and conducts reindeer herding from the convention area in the northwest and down to the High Coast in the east. The Sami village has its year-round lands above the cultivation limit within Dorotea and Vilhelmina municipalities. The winter pastures include Åsele, Strömsund, Sollefteå, Örnsköldsvik and Kramfors.

The Sámi are one of the indigenous peoples of the world and for centuries they have lived close to nature. Even though the Sámi way of life has developed along with the rest of society, their culture and traditions are still strongly present. The practice of reindeer herding is a strong carrier of cultural heritage but far from all Sámi have it as their main occupation. It is more common to help out at larger events such as the calf branding. There are 51 Sámi communities in Sweden. A Sámi community is an economic association and its members are Sámi who work with reindeer herding within the boundaries of the respective communities.

AUTHOR: Tomas Nybrand (Sweden)

Photographer in Vilhelmina, Swedish South Lapland, passionate about capturing nature and the people in it.