Wilderness areas are not wild; they are a part the Sámi homeland, the everyday cultural environment of traditional livelihoods and Sámi communities.
The Sámi Cultural Environment Is Formed By Visible And Invisible Parts
- Built heritage, ancient remnants and traditional landscapes created by Sámi livelihoods are visible parts of it (siida.fi).
- Oral tradition gives the landscape meaning and is transferred through generations as stories, place names and traditional Sámi music: yoik, livđe and leudd songs.
- Yoik is music from the Northern Sámi, livđe from the Inari Sámi, and leudd from the Skolt Sámi (in Finnish, oktavuohta.com).
Respect The Sámi Cultural Environment
- Take the sacred places of the Sámi into consideration and follow good practices.
- For example, you can visit Ukonsaari in Inari from the lake without disembarking onto the island and thus respect the sacred place.
- Do not damage the cultural environment and cultural heritage sites - you are allowed to look but please don’t touch.
- Do not treat the cultural environment like a guest book by writing on walls or the ground, and do not move or pile rocks.
- Leave rocks, structures and old trail markings in place.
Take Into Account The Privacy Of Homes And Local Special Rights
- The right to privacy applies to the home, yard and reindeer pasture in the yard. The right to privacy also protects reindeer and fishing huts, holiday cottages, lean-to shelters and campfire huts owned by private individuals and their yard areas, and their privacy must be respected.
- Locals may have special rights that may differ from your rights. Locals often have good reasons for more extensive rights regarding e.g. off-road traffic, fishing and hunting.
- Follow good practices when taking photos in a public place. Ask for permission to photograph people.
Do not alter the landscape through your actions or leave a trace of your visit!