Page 148 - Panjek, Aleksander, Jesper Larsson and Luca Mocarelli, eds. 2017. Integrated Peasant Economy in a Comparative Perspective: Alps, Scandinavia and Beyond. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 148
integr ated peasant economy in a compar ative perspective
The traditional slaughter time was at the beginning of September and
reindeer were thereafter slaughtered as required until market time in Jan-
uary and February. Some of the meat was consumed immediately, cooked
over an open fire, but most of it was dried or otherwise preserved to be
eaten in winter and spring. Reindeer meat was more important, in terms
of diet, for the Mountain Sami than the Forest Sami. Moreover, for the
Mountain Sami, reindeer meat was an important trade good that they sold
to Swedish and Norwegian merchants at market. It could also be bartered
with settlers and Forest Sami on a more everyday basis in return for dried
fish and other products.
After slaughter most of the animal was utilised (Fjellström 1985, 262ff;
Högström 1980, 120). Bones and antlers were turned into tools or utensils
such as spoons and knife handles (Högström 1980, 84). Sinews were skilful-
ly handcrafted into twine and rope. Stomachs and intestines were cleaned
and used for storing blood and milk. Not least, the reindeer hides were uti-
lised and either de-haired and tanned, or stretched out to dry with the hair
in place. Reindeer fur, with its excellent insulating property, was essential
for surviving the winters in northern Fennoscandia and was thus an in-
dispensable product in every Sami household, for making both fur parkas
and blankets. Additionally, fur was a tax good and a popular form of mer-
chandise.
To sum up, reindeer husbandry was the main subsistence activity for
Mountain Sami while it was only a part of, and played a lesser role in, sub-
sistence in most Forest Sami households. In the 17th and 18th centuries the
Mountain Sami had bigger reindeer herds than the Forest Sami and conse-
quentially more access to reindeer products, as noted above with reindeer
milk and meat, and we can reasonably assume that they would have had
more goods to trade and to use for paying tax.
3.2 Fishing
Aside from reindeer husbandry the Forest Sami were heavily involved in
fishing. In fact the written sources describe them as subsisting almost so-
lely on fish (Lundius 1983; Linnæus 2003, 55). Fish was an obvious resource
as many Forest Sami had access to fish-rich lakes and streams, populated
by a great variety of species such as pike (Esox lucius), whitefish (Coregonus
sp.), perch (Perca fluviatilis), roach (Rutilus rutilus) and grayling (Thymal-
lus thymallus) (Tornaeus 1983, 60). Fishing was carried out by various me-
ans but the most efficient forms were net fishing, and seining where the
146
The traditional slaughter time was at the beginning of September and
reindeer were thereafter slaughtered as required until market time in Jan-
uary and February. Some of the meat was consumed immediately, cooked
over an open fire, but most of it was dried or otherwise preserved to be
eaten in winter and spring. Reindeer meat was more important, in terms
of diet, for the Mountain Sami than the Forest Sami. Moreover, for the
Mountain Sami, reindeer meat was an important trade good that they sold
to Swedish and Norwegian merchants at market. It could also be bartered
with settlers and Forest Sami on a more everyday basis in return for dried
fish and other products.
After slaughter most of the animal was utilised (Fjellström 1985, 262ff;
Högström 1980, 120). Bones and antlers were turned into tools or utensils
such as spoons and knife handles (Högström 1980, 84). Sinews were skilful-
ly handcrafted into twine and rope. Stomachs and intestines were cleaned
and used for storing blood and milk. Not least, the reindeer hides were uti-
lised and either de-haired and tanned, or stretched out to dry with the hair
in place. Reindeer fur, with its excellent insulating property, was essential
for surviving the winters in northern Fennoscandia and was thus an in-
dispensable product in every Sami household, for making both fur parkas
and blankets. Additionally, fur was a tax good and a popular form of mer-
chandise.
To sum up, reindeer husbandry was the main subsistence activity for
Mountain Sami while it was only a part of, and played a lesser role in, sub-
sistence in most Forest Sami households. In the 17th and 18th centuries the
Mountain Sami had bigger reindeer herds than the Forest Sami and conse-
quentially more access to reindeer products, as noted above with reindeer
milk and meat, and we can reasonably assume that they would have had
more goods to trade and to use for paying tax.
3.2 Fishing
Aside from reindeer husbandry the Forest Sami were heavily involved in
fishing. In fact the written sources describe them as subsisting almost so-
lely on fish (Lundius 1983; Linnæus 2003, 55). Fish was an obvious resource
as many Forest Sami had access to fish-rich lakes and streams, populated
by a great variety of species such as pike (Esox lucius), whitefish (Coregonus
sp.), perch (Perca fluviatilis), roach (Rutilus rutilus) and grayling (Thymal-
lus thymallus) (Tornaeus 1983, 60). Fishing was carried out by various me-
ans but the most efficient forms were net fishing, and seining where the
146
