Russia, Oblast Murmansk, 2006 / Sami girl in front of Lavoo.
Russia, Oblast Murmansk, November 2006 / The Sami are spread across the north of Scandinavia and Russia. There are an estimated 85,000 Sami, 2,000 of whom live in Northern Russia on the Kola Peninsula. Most Kola-Sami live in Lovozero south of the city of Murmansk.
Russia, Oblast Murmansk, November 2006 / The Sámi originally lived as nomads. During Communist times in the context of the ‘civilising offensive’, they were obliged to go to schools. Many communities were displaced to newly created towns, which resulted in many traditions being lost.
Russia, Oblast Murmansk, November 2006 / Most Sami work in service of the Kolchoz. They switch every two months and travel by snow scooter to the various herds that lie along the migration routes of the reindeer. Denis and Julin check their things before departing for Brigade number three.
Russia, Oblast Murmansk, November 2006 / Vladimir waits by the garage of Kolchoz ‘Tundra’ in Lovozero until everything is ready for departure to Brigade number three.
Russia, Oblast Murmansk, November 2006 / The Sami youths wrestle with their identity. They feel Sami, but have Russian as a main language and have mainly been brought up in town. The stories about herding reindeer are mostly related to them by their parents and grand parents.
Russia, Oblast Murmansk, 2006 / Buran
Russia, Oblast Murmansk, November 2006 / Because of the long polar night, there are only four hours of daylight per day in November.
Russia, Oblast Murmansk, November 2006
Russia, Oblast Murmansk, 2006 / Brigade number three.
Russia, Oblast Murmansk, 2006 / Jasja
Russia, Oblast Murmansk, November 2006
Russia, Oblast Murmansk, November 2006 / Jasja on the back of a buran, a Russian snow scooter.
Russia, Oblast Murmansk, November 2006 / Nikolai knows the outstretched grazing area of the reindeer that stretches all the way to the Barents Sea like the back of his hand. Kalugin: “I would like us Sami to have a future. But I fear the worst.”
Russia, Oblast Murmansk, 2006 / Lovozero