Page 153 - 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. 153
livelihood diversification in early modern sami households in northern sweden
usehold economy. Nonetheless, it is not impossible that Forest Sami sold
turnips to Mountain Sami that desired turnips so much that they easily
traded one reindeer cheese for a single one (Linnæus 2003, 58, 60). The so-
urces also describe how rich Mountain Sami would buy cows and sheep in
Norway in early summer, which they milked daily along with their reinde-
er in the mountains (Graan 1983, 37; Lundius 1983, 32); Högström 1980, 118).
Livestock were kept until the first snow, when they were slaughtered and
their meat preserved. Keeping cattle, sheep and goats, activities similar to
reindeer husbandry, were probably not considered a hindrance for daily
life, and would thus have been a rational form of subsistence for the Sami.
As mentioned before there were relatively few settlers in the lappmark
before the 19th century. Even so, their numbers had slowly increased from
the 17th century, and 18th-century sources record that settlers, although still
few in number, had spread out, particularly in the south and east lappmarks
and along the Norwegian coast (Högström 1980, 254). Towards the 19th cen-
tury more and more Forest Sami started to build homes and cultivate the
land. The reason that they abandoned their former nomadic lifestyle was
probably in part due to increased competition for natural resources from
the growing number of non-Sami settlers, and in part due to the introduc-
tion of new influences and ideas.
3.7 Trade and transports
Sami selling, buying and exchanging their products has already been men-
tioned several times in relation to various subsistence activities. Trade of
this kind took place either at official market sites that were established in
each Swedish lappmark from the early 17th century, or as part of everyday
exchange between neighbouring groups. To the regular markets, which
were held in January or February each year, almost all Sami came and met
merchants from the nearest coastal town to trade various kinds of items
(Ehrenmalm 1743, 91; Rheen 1983). According to the sources the Sami sold
reindeer and reindeer meat, reindeer hides and furs, reindeer cheese, and
manufactured products such as fur parkas, boots, gloves and cloaks. They
also sold dried fish, furs of wild game, and lastly, down and feathers.
Moreover the sources detail a wide range of products that merchants
took to market (Ehrenmalm 1743, 91; Rheen 1983). These include alcohol,
axes, brass rings, clay tobacco pipes, coins, copper, fabric, fishing tackle,
flour, gunpowder, ox and cow hides, iron, knives, lead, needles, rifles, rope,
151
usehold economy. Nonetheless, it is not impossible that Forest Sami sold
turnips to Mountain Sami that desired turnips so much that they easily
traded one reindeer cheese for a single one (Linnæus 2003, 58, 60). The so-
urces also describe how rich Mountain Sami would buy cows and sheep in
Norway in early summer, which they milked daily along with their reinde-
er in the mountains (Graan 1983, 37; Lundius 1983, 32); Högström 1980, 118).
Livestock were kept until the first snow, when they were slaughtered and
their meat preserved. Keeping cattle, sheep and goats, activities similar to
reindeer husbandry, were probably not considered a hindrance for daily
life, and would thus have been a rational form of subsistence for the Sami.
As mentioned before there were relatively few settlers in the lappmark
before the 19th century. Even so, their numbers had slowly increased from
the 17th century, and 18th-century sources record that settlers, although still
few in number, had spread out, particularly in the south and east lappmarks
and along the Norwegian coast (Högström 1980, 254). Towards the 19th cen-
tury more and more Forest Sami started to build homes and cultivate the
land. The reason that they abandoned their former nomadic lifestyle was
probably in part due to increased competition for natural resources from
the growing number of non-Sami settlers, and in part due to the introduc-
tion of new influences and ideas.
3.7 Trade and transports
Sami selling, buying and exchanging their products has already been men-
tioned several times in relation to various subsistence activities. Trade of
this kind took place either at official market sites that were established in
each Swedish lappmark from the early 17th century, or as part of everyday
exchange between neighbouring groups. To the regular markets, which
were held in January or February each year, almost all Sami came and met
merchants from the nearest coastal town to trade various kinds of items
(Ehrenmalm 1743, 91; Rheen 1983). According to the sources the Sami sold
reindeer and reindeer meat, reindeer hides and furs, reindeer cheese, and
manufactured products such as fur parkas, boots, gloves and cloaks. They
also sold dried fish, furs of wild game, and lastly, down and feathers.
Moreover the sources detail a wide range of products that merchants
took to market (Ehrenmalm 1743, 91; Rheen 1983). These include alcohol,
axes, brass rings, clay tobacco pipes, coins, copper, fabric, fishing tackle,
flour, gunpowder, ox and cow hides, iron, knives, lead, needles, rifles, rope,
151
