
Kautokeino is one of two cultural centers of the Northern Norwegian Samis today. It has close to 3000 inhabitants, of which 90% has sami as their mother language. The biggest industry is reindeer hurding. There is a slow reduction in the population. The unemplyment rate has been high, but is now decreasing.
Historically, the Samis lived as nomads in ¨lavvo¨ tents and their main livelihood was reindeer herding, sheep herding and fishing for which they used vast areas of land. Due to assimilation and centralisation politics after the 2. World War, houses were built in Kautokeino for the Samis in a typical suburbian linear model. These are not well suited for Samis lifestyle. Yet the samis have found new and creative ways to use their houses and gardens.

Sami Research Center,
1 comment:
A wellmade description of Kautokeino in images : http://vimeo.com/29183001
Post a Comment