Page 152 - 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. 152
integr ated peasant economy in a compar ative perspective
tanned with gathered bark. According to the written sources both Moun-
tain Sami and Forest Sami took part in various gathering activities and
both groups sold products that were manufactured from gathered resourc-
es. Even so, gathering seems to have been a more important income source
for Forest Sami than for Mountain Sami. All in all, the gathering of various
natural resources provided direct and indirect incomes and was not merely
carried out to fulfil consumption needs within the household.
3.5 Handcrafts
Descriptions of Sami handcrafts are common in the written sources and
include a wide range of products such as boats, sleds and objects such as
chests, boxes, spoons and baskets (Graan 1983, 52; Högström 1980, 87; Rhe-
en 1983, 57). The Sami did not have special handcraft guilds. Instead, skills
were passed down within families from generation to generation. Högström
(1980, 88) describes for example tin-twine making as so skilful that it cou-
ld have been “learned from the best master.” Making twine from tin, roots
and sinews was mainly a woman’s task. It was also a woman’s task to pre-
pare reindeer hide and use it to sew garments such as hats, cloaks, boots
and gloves. Both Mountain Sami and Forest Sami engaged in handcrafts.
Högström (1980, 87) notes that the Mountain Sami did not engage in han-
dcrafting very much with the exception of the poor who, forced by necessi-
ty, could be quite skilled craftsmen. Again it is probable that the rich Mo-
untain Sami with their many reindeer focused on herding and spent less
time on other activities such as handcrafting. Nevertheless, all Sami ho-
useholds at this time would probably have made most of their everyday
utensils and clothes themselves. However, Rheen (1983, 58) describes that
Sami handcrafts such as cloaks, boots and gloves were sold at market and
handcrafted products were evidently not only aimed at household consu-
mption.
3.6 Farming
Sami never stayed in the same place for more than a couple of weeks be-
fore moving, a strategy that maximised their resource bases: fishing wa-
ters and reindeer pasture. Farming, conversely, called for a sedentary life-
style with long-term planning, far removed from the nomadic way of life.
However, Lundius (1980, 27) describes how Sami in the Ume lappmark dig
up small plots and sow turnips in the enclosures where reindeers are mil-
ked. Turnips probably made up a relatively small contribution to the ho-
150
tanned with gathered bark. According to the written sources both Moun-
tain Sami and Forest Sami took part in various gathering activities and
both groups sold products that were manufactured from gathered resourc-
es. Even so, gathering seems to have been a more important income source
for Forest Sami than for Mountain Sami. All in all, the gathering of various
natural resources provided direct and indirect incomes and was not merely
carried out to fulfil consumption needs within the household.
3.5 Handcrafts
Descriptions of Sami handcrafts are common in the written sources and
include a wide range of products such as boats, sleds and objects such as
chests, boxes, spoons and baskets (Graan 1983, 52; Högström 1980, 87; Rhe-
en 1983, 57). The Sami did not have special handcraft guilds. Instead, skills
were passed down within families from generation to generation. Högström
(1980, 88) describes for example tin-twine making as so skilful that it cou-
ld have been “learned from the best master.” Making twine from tin, roots
and sinews was mainly a woman’s task. It was also a woman’s task to pre-
pare reindeer hide and use it to sew garments such as hats, cloaks, boots
and gloves. Both Mountain Sami and Forest Sami engaged in handcrafts.
Högström (1980, 87) notes that the Mountain Sami did not engage in han-
dcrafting very much with the exception of the poor who, forced by necessi-
ty, could be quite skilled craftsmen. Again it is probable that the rich Mo-
untain Sami with their many reindeer focused on herding and spent less
time on other activities such as handcrafting. Nevertheless, all Sami ho-
useholds at this time would probably have made most of their everyday
utensils and clothes themselves. However, Rheen (1983, 58) describes that
Sami handcrafts such as cloaks, boots and gloves were sold at market and
handcrafted products were evidently not only aimed at household consu-
mption.
3.6 Farming
Sami never stayed in the same place for more than a couple of weeks be-
fore moving, a strategy that maximised their resource bases: fishing wa-
ters and reindeer pasture. Farming, conversely, called for a sedentary life-
style with long-term planning, far removed from the nomadic way of life.
However, Lundius (1980, 27) describes how Sami in the Ume lappmark dig
up small plots and sow turnips in the enclosures where reindeers are mil-
ked. Turnips probably made up a relatively small contribution to the ho-
150
