Reindeer are Wild Too

Published in 1952, Joan Newhouse's book tells of her experiences for twelve months spent with Lapp reindeer herders. While Lapp is now deemed an offensive term to some, and Sámi is now the term used to describe these indigenous people of northern Scandinavia.

The English author set out to plan how she might spend time with the reindeer herders. From Oslo, Newhouse sets out for Finmark, the most northern province. In Hammerfest, the author meets up with a Norwegian girl from Oslo and they undertake some hikes around the area. On one of these journeys she meets a Lapp couple on Seiland Island and is welcomed into their tent. She returns to the tent several times over the next week, building a rapport with them. After a couple of weeks she arranges to return to meet them in 6 months time, when she will travel with them. In return she will buy them a new sledge.

With a degree in geography and a diploma in anthropology, Newhouse obtained a grant from the Royal Geographical Society, and spent her six months convincing her family it was a good idea, and gathering equipment (most of which she discarded in the first few weeks).

The author returns and fully integrates with the family she joins. She wears the clothes, learns their language, carries out the same tasks that the Lapp do. With the family she travels to an annual Easter festival, takes reindeer to a sale, and play her part in an annual spring migration to the summer grazing. She is observant and records all aspects of Lapp life, including the gossip and intimate goings on of the people she stays with. Newhouse writes an interesting narrative, providing a great depth of information in a non-academic way. She describes the challenges and joys of the Lapp semi-nomadic lifestyle, the important role their reindeer play in the fortunes, and what happens when a Lapp runs foul of his compatriots. Along the way Newhouse changes from being a novelty for the Lapps to be amused by the becoming a part of their society, and mistaken by Norwegians for a Lapp.

This is not the only Lapp reindeer herders book I heave read. Marie Herbert's The Reindeer people is much later, set in 1975, and outlines the author accompanying Lapps on their spring migration. Where Newhouse became effectively integrated, Herbert was merely an accompaniment on the migration, so never reached the level of intimacy that New house did.

4.5 stars, rounded down.