Rödluvan in the snow
Part 10
  Reindeer 4
2008-03-07
 
Even this year I met the Sami Ola Rokka with his reindeer. Happy me petting the reindeer, Kasper.
But Kasper did not pull me on the sledge. It was the reindeer Emil who did it. Here I soon will go on the sleigh ride.
But before I went to the reindeer I was listening to the Sami, Simon Issát Marainen. He was singing jojk. In Word Finder this word is translated with: Improvised chant sung by the Sami.

I was so touched of his song. Memories came when I was young and hiking in the mountains and meeting Sami and reindeer there.

Me in the maintains. Then I was only 28 years old. Wearing a green Arctic Fox jacket.

It is not possible to describe the feelings you get while you are walking in the Swedish mountains. But in the jojk by the Sami, I recognized the feelings I had. It were deep great feelings.
I bought his CD. And he did sign it. I felt proud to have a signature of a real Sami.
After the jojk concert I went to the reindeer. The Sami had raised a real Sami tent. Inside the tent was en open fire. Than you could go in there and warm yourself.

The flag at the left is the Sami flag.
Ola was out with the reindeer Emil, who was pulling the sleigh with people on it.
This year the reindeer could not run on the pond. This winter had been too mild and it could be dangerous when the water was not real frozen. They had the sleigh ride on land.
In the middle you can see the reindeer Kasper. The one pulled  my sledge last Year. Now Emil was pulling the sledge. In the back ground a bit of the reindeer Jesper.
This picture taken 2005. The reindeer Studs was not here this year. He pulled the sled in the years 2005 and 2006. Here you can see how Studs looks. He is a beautiful reindeer.
Some older pictures of showing up reindeer.

2005. That year Ola had these reindeer with him. I don't know who is who. But their names are Jätte (Giant) and Aslak. That name means : "A tough old boy".  They did not pull the sleigh. These reindeer were only there for show.
2006. Oliver at the left. He did pull the sleigh. But I did not have a sleigh ride with him. Evert at the right. He was only there for show.
2006. Cesar.  2007 Rudolf. These were only there for showing.
Kasper. 2008
Close-up picture of Kasper.
Later Kasper pulled the sledge and Emil was resting. But he did not pull it with me. I had the sleigh ride with Emil this year. Here a close up picture with Kasper in his harness.
Telephoto lens Picture of 2007. Then I was riding the sledge with Kasper in the heavy snowfall.
Kasper and Jesper.
Jesper.
Ola with the reindeer Emil. And me on the sledge. Ola was joking and said to me: "Now we will ride to the North Pole". Well, I have a good jacket with a big hood and I probably will not freeze in the North Pole :-)
Here  Emil goes with me. There was rather deep snow, but Emil is strong and could pull the sleigh.
After the ride I pet Emil.
Jesper never pulled the sledge. Here Jesper it looking at me.
And here  I'm looking at Jesper.
Now Emil was pulling the sledge with some children.
Emil pulling the sledge. The other reindeer are resting.
Here Kasper was pulling the sledge.
I went cold on my hands because I took pictures. Then I went in into the Sami tent. There is an open fire in the middle. You could sit on the ground on the reindeer rugs.
The smoke goes out through this hole on the roof of the tent.
Kasper and Jesper. Now Kasper was ready with his work and could rest a while.
Time went by fast and Ola brought the reindeer to the van. Here he goes with Emil.
Emil in the van. Behind him you can see the legs of Kasper.
After it Ola brought Jesper to the van.
Jesper ready to go in into the van. When Ola said to the reindeer. “Varsågod” the reindeer jumped in into he van (Varsågod means in this case that you may do it.  Here it means that the reindeer may go in into the van.
A young Sami boy had these beautiful Sami shoes. Made of reindeer skin.
The shoes from the side.
I felt so happy. Here I'm is standing in the woods by work with a big smile on my face.
I needed a hot cup of tea when I came home. Winter outside but the daffodils on the table were sign of the spring.
When I went to bed I still was thinking about the wonderful sleigh ride.

And I was thinking about my friend,  the reindeer Emil who pulled the sleigh.
Wilhelmina Schedin 2016-03-12