Freezing winds howl across the Arctic. Darkness arrives earlier and stays much longer. Soon, the Sun will set below the horizon and remain unseen for months. Winter is approaching. These seasonal trials are expected and pose little challenge to the reindeer herders who recognize them like family. But new changes are making their way to the Arctic. These challenges threaten the livelihoods of an indigenous culture and the reindeer they have relied on for millennia.
The Sámi are an indigenous people of the Arctic, inhabiting a region known to them as Sápmi. It spans northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and parts of Russia. Both climate change and land development are bringing hazards to this region. A phenomenal new map by Christina Shintani of the Woodwell Climate Research Center and Ravdna Biret Marja Eira Sara of the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry provides a cartographic look at how three Sámi families and their reindeer herd are being pushed to the limit.
The map is a gorgeous blend of satellite imagery and thematic data. It shows the land vital to the Fálá herd in Western Finmark, Norway. Snow-covered, winter imagery gently gives way to views of summertime vegetation. It also shows how a landscape of seasonal grazing grounds and migratory routes is becoming fractured and perilous. Inset maps and other graphics complement the storytelling. They also provide an elegant balance between the primary map and its more abstract counterparts.
Trial and perseverance are no strangers to the Sámi. Despite disruptions to natural places and societal issues like discrimination, they’ve held onto the soul of their culture. But once more, they are preparing for an uncertain future. And this map beautifully tells part of that story, and one that is steeped in both struggle and resolve.
More to Explore
- View more maps in Christina Shintani’s portfolio.
- Learn how the Arctic boreal forest is moving northward.
- See how Woodwell Climate Research Center measures and maps carbon in US forests.
