Indigenous Peoples

The encounters with people are often what makes travelling to the North so unique. As part of KONTIKI2030, we are committed to the cultural preservation and inclusion of indigenous peoples in the North. On our travels, Kontiki comes into contact with two groups: the Sámi in Scandinavia and the Inuit in Greenland.

What you can do

Greenland is «Kalaallit Nunaat», the «Land of the People». The first settlers reached the largely ice-covered island several thousand years ago when the sea between North Greenland and Canada froze. In total, there are six Inuit cultures that have settled Greenland in different waves over the years. They used kayak-like vehicles to make the long journey. About 88% of Greenland’s population today is Inuit. They are considered to be descendants of the Thule culture, the last Inuit to migrate to Greenland in the 9th century – around the same time as the Norwegian Vikings surrounding Erik the Red. They were also the ones who brought the dog sledding tradition to Greenland.

Greenland is both a traditional and modern destination. Greenlanders have retained many elements of their culture, developed them and brought them into new contexts that shape the country today. Dog sledding, for example, is an integral part of local tourism, which allows the mushers (the sled dog handlers) to continue their tradition. Similarly, kayaks enjoy global popularity and other cultural elements, such as dances and songs, are passed down from generation to generation.

Hear more about the Kalaallit themselves at a traditional «kaffemik».

The ancestors of the Sámi migrated through the vastness of northern Europe thousands of years ago. Today, the indigenous population still numbers approximately 70,000 Sámi spread over the northern territories of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula in Russia. The homeland of the Sámi is also called «Sápmi». Sápmi, however, refers not only to the country, but also to the Sámi themselves and their language. In the eyes of the Sámi, these three elements – land, people, and language – cannot be separated from each other, because they are all interconnected and interdependent. This creates a unique, vibrant living cultural landscape and language. Originally there were a total of ten Sámi languages, that were scattered over the different regions, nine of which are still spoken today. In the Finnish regions, also called Sámi Homeland, North Sámi, Inari Sámi and Skolt Sámi meet for example.

The Sámi are known to many for their reindeer herding, clothing and handicrafts. However, this image only represents a tiny part of the diversity of Sámi culture and does not necessarily reflect the everyday life of the Sámi today. For example, traditional clothing, such as the gákti, is now mainly worn on special occasions. The Sámi possess an impressive arsenal of art, music, song and traditional knowledge. There are always regional differences. Customs as well as traditions are constantly being developed and adapted to the life of the next generation. Reindeer breeding remains an important cornerstone, which not only provides an income, but is also reflected time and again in the arts, crafts and culinary arts.

Tourism offers an excellent opportunity for indigenous peoples, such as the Sámi or Inuit, to preserve and reinterpret their culture. However, this is only the case if tourism in all its facets also contributes to preserving the local nature and culture, and passing them on to the next generation and in accordance with the conditions and wishes of the Sámi and Inuit themselves. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Problems arise again and again in the tourism industry and beyond, such as cultural appropriation, the dissemination of false information or the portrayal of indigenous peoples as stereotypes, exotic myths or primitive lifestyles. This was and still is a difficult conflict, which especially the Sámi in Finland face in everyday life. For example, aspects of other cultures, such as dog sleds and igloos, are transferred to the Sámi and spread as false narratives in tourism. Such «borrowed traditions» are problematic because they convey an inaccurate picture of the Sámi and distract from the actual culture and its diversity.

Kontiki wants to set an example and promote respectful, ethical and sustainable tourism in collaboration with its partners. Our promise: We are committed to the preservation of the cultural heritage and the inclusion of the indigenous peoples of the North. We are guided by the Recommendations on Sustainable Development of Indigenous Tourism of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for the sustainable development of tourism in the connection of indigenous peoples:

In order to achieve our goal, we exchanged views with various experts and service providers in Scandinavia and Greenland during the focus year 2023. In October of that year, we brought together for the first time several of our Sámi partners from the destinations. We wanted to better understand how we as outsiders could communicate authentically and respectfully and live up to the cultural diversity of the Sámi. At the same time, we wanted to learn how to sensitise our travellers to the issues that many Sámi still face today, such as the cultural exploitation in tourism, without unknowingly contributing to the latter. In addition, we approached organisations and experts in Greenland to discuss potentials for joint projects. These dialogues have led to the next steps that we would like to pursue with our partners:

• We are expanding our publication guidelines. We review our image database, establish a terminology guide and integrate the cultural diversity of the Sámi and Inuit even more into our communication.
• We train our employees on topics such as Sámi and Inuit culture, and the problems that arise from irresponsible tourism.
• We are expanding our local cooperations in order to develop new exciting, sustainable cultural experiences.
• We share with you how we can all conduct ourselves responsibly, for example by implementing the official Visitor Guidelines of the Sámi Parliament in Finland.
• We promote year-round tourism.
• We establish feedback loops that allow our partners and us to optimise our activities.

Sustainable and responsible tourism can play an important role for indigenous peoples in fostering cultural exchange, generating income opportunities, safeguarding and promoting cultural preservation, and gaining greater autonomy. Help us make this happen by keeping the following tips in mind:

• Inform yourself about the local culture and customs before your trip.
• Learn a few words from the local language. The Sámi Parliament of Finland has collected the most important words from the Sámi vocabulary here. Visit Greenland provides an insight into the Greenlandic language, which belongs to the Inuit language family.
• Support local crafts by buying souvenirs with labels such as Sámi Duodji and Sami Made. Duodji is the North Sámi term for handicraft.
• Book cultural experiences and hire local guides. Sámi and Inuit are themselves the best ambassadors for their own culture and can give you unique and authentic insights.
• Be open. The culture of the Sámi and Inuit is characterised by more than traditional clothing, reindeer, igloos, and sled dogs. Get involved in what your guides and the people you meet along the way would like to convey to you.
• If you are in Greenland: Visit a Kaffemik. It is an appointment for coffee and cake at the home of Greenlanders, to which usually 50 people come and go. Here you can get to know the Greenlanders in a relaxed setting. More information and some «Dos and Don’ts» can be found here.
• If you are in Lapland: Take note of the official recommendations of the Sámi Parliament of Finland during your trip and test your knowledge by taking the quiz.
• Always ask for permission before taking pictures of people, rituals or holy/spiritual places. Private individuals in traditional clothing do not necessarily want to be photographed.
• Ask questions, show your interest.
• Give us and our partners feedback on your experiences so we can learn from them. We look forward to hearing from you at cr@STOP-SPAM.kontiki.ch .