Join us in a Sami lavvu and find out what forces reign inside the lavvu. Learn about Sami culture and traditions from a Sami shaman. He tells the story of the Sami people, of joik, of the language, of reindeer-herding, and of the Sami people in modern society. But he also conveys messages from the Sami spirits who live in the lavvu and nature.

Did you think that if you entered a lavvu you would see those who live there? If so, you were wrong. Of course, you may see the visible residents, but there are also invisible ones.

The lavvu is ruled by three invisible women: Uksahkka, Sarahkka, and Joksahkka.

Uksahkka lives in the door and watches over it. You will probably not be allowed entry unless she approves of you. If you find an empty lavvu you must have a very good reason for entering. By entering, you will have defied Uksahkka, and you will have done so at your own risk.

Sarahkka lives under the fireplace. You don’t see her, but if you take a photo of the fire, she might show in the flames. She is our Goddess of Birth and loves children. She is the expecting woman’s friend and shares the pains and discomforts of the pregnancy. But she is also a powerful goddess who loves that new lives see the day. Therefore one may share some coffee with her and listen to her joik.
Would you dare to?

Juoksahkka
In the back of the lavvu is boaššu, the Hole Place. There one places one’s hunting weapons. The place is guarded by Juoksahkka. Juoksahkka means, directly translated, the bow-woman. A Sami bow is made of two types of wood and were some of the ultimate hunting weapons in existence. The Sami people were excellent archers and could bring down game at long distance, as the bows had an incredible springiness. There one viewed Juoksahkka as a strong and important goddess. But she is also a Goddess of Birth, since she decides whether the child will be a boy or a girl. It is Juoksahkka who decides who become good hunters, and who will be lucky in life. Lucky, in this sense, means luck in hunting as well as luck in studies, work, and choice of profession.
Maybe you would like to sacrifice something to Juoksahkka, for your own career’s sake. 

Enjoy us for an exciting dog sledding with wagon trip in the arctic natur! The path goes along forest roads, through beautiful autumn wilderness.

Dog sledding with wagon means action! We drive and you sit on, but for the toughest, it is possible to try a little yourself. Dogs love to run, both summer and winter. Since there is no snow, which the dogs can eat, we add a drinking break. Then you also get to breathe, and participate in the interaction between humans and animals.
When we are done, we take a look in the kennel. Since we are animal friends, on the verge of the fanatical, we like to show how wonderful we have arranged it, to our fantastic dogs.

Finally, snacks and hot drinks are served in a heated lavvo.

Northern Lights ceremony

Join us in a gripping Northern Lights Ceremony, led by a Sami shaman. According to Sami mythology, the souls of our forefathers dance in the sky. The ceremony involves deciding our relations to our forefathers—each one of you decides your own relations to your own forefathers, for I see my forefathers dancing in the sky, while you see yours.

The shaman explains a little of Sami culture, history, and life, and where the Northern Lights places in this, while we drink chaga-tea.

The Northern Lights has always been an important part of the Sami understanding of reality. The Northern Lights should be treated with respect and reverence. But the Northern Lights were also good friends to the reindeer-herders when they were out alone in the cold of the moors. Even today, with all our technical aids, a reindeer-herder may be joyful when the Northern Lights light up the darkness.

Scientists explain that the Northern Lights are electrical particles from the sun that hit the upper atmosphere of the Earth. This is probably true, but the Sami people also has a different explanation as to why the Northern Lights dance on the sky. The lights are the souls of our forefathers. Therefore the Northern Lights mean much to the indigenous people of North-Europe. We have a connection with the Northern Lights from before we are born, through our lives, until long after we have travelled on to the next world. 

If you see Northern Lights in a blue autumn sky, it is a sign that something beautiful will happen—often the birth of a child or something similar.

In Sami kindergarten we learn children’s songs and stories about guovssahas.

Guovssahas
Guovssahasat vihket, lip lip lii
Buoidi njálmmis, lip lip lii
Veahčir gállus, lip lip lii
Ákšu sealggis, lip lip lip.
(The Northern Lights run, lip lip lii
Grease in the mouth, lip lip lii
Hammer in the pan, lip lip lii
The axe in the back, lip lip lii)

Indoors one can sing this, but if one does so outdoors, so the Northern Lights hear, a mouse-tail starts to grow on the one who sings.

When we grow up we learn to respect the Northern Lights in a different way, since according to the Sami mythology it is the souls of our forefathers that dance on the sky. This means that in the Northern Lights I see the souls of my forefathers, while you see the souls of your forefathers. Each and every one of us develops their relations to their forefathers. 

When we speak of forefathers, it can rouse many different feelings in us. Some have good relations with relations and forefathers, while others may have more strained relations. 

Therefore we have our own ceremony related to the Northern Lights. The ceremony roughly involves that each and every one of us decides their relations to their forefathers. Some like to repeat the ceremony, up to several times a year, while others feel that one Northern Lights Ceremony is enough for a life-time.

But before we start we serve chaga-tea, a holy drink made of birch fungi that gives you the strength and energy to complete the ceremony. You will also receive a piece of tinder that you place in the fireplace as an offering to your forefathers.

When the ceremony is over you will be better prepared to view the Northern Lights, and maybe even attract guovsahas! 

Dogsledding

Enjoy us for an exciting dog sledding trip in the arctic natur! The path goes through a magical terrain, and among majestic mountains, where you can enjoy the tranquility of the wilderness. 

 Did you know that a well-trained sled dog can run 500 km in a few days? The distance from Paris to London! And after a break and some food, it will be ready to run the same distance back! Why? Well, sled dogs are like that – they love to run! We start with to learn to know the dogs, and the equipment, show how to mush a dog sled. In pairs, you drive dog teams with 4-6 dogs through a magical terrain, and among majestic mountains. The tour is led by a very knowledgeable tour guide with her own dog team. Winter in polar regions is special. It is often quiet and starry. The trees are covered with ice crystals, and nature has gone into a dormant state. It will never be completely dark, as the Aurora Borealis is over us. After the dog sled ride, lunch and hot drinks will be served in a heated lavvo.