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Help with home, dogs and reindeer in Karasjok, Norway

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 3 weeks

Jan
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Apr
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Oct
Nov
Dec

Details

  • Description

    Description

    A family with a mum (38), dad (36), Two daughters (11 and 19) and one son (8).

    We are sami people, the indiginous people in Norway. We live in the NORTH of Norway, Karasjok.

    Dad is a fulltime reindeer herder.
    Mum works with different kinds of media.

    We have 1 dog and our own reindeer heard. In wintertime dad spends much time on the tundra with our reindeer and summertime he has more time with the family at home. But we do spend much time around the reindeer in summertime also.

    Right now we are looking for different kinds of people to join, and help us.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Language practice
    Teaching
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    You will learn and experience an unique culture where people lives with and for the reindeers. In wintertime you Get to know the arctic weather which is kinda rough with its up to -40 Degrees.

    Our meals are very often made of reindeer meat. That means that we also need to kill and slaughter some of our reindeer. You'll be able to be a part of this work also.

    In wintertime we use snowmobiles, summertime we have ATV/UTV to travel to the reindeers, and you will have the possibility to come with us.

    Reindeerhusbandry in Norway has had some rough and tough time the last winters. Too much snow and warmer climate makes the snow melt, and it turns into ice. This means that the animals doesn’t find their food under the snow. This is a direct result of the climateschanges. And all the reindeers need to be fed with hay and pellets. We need some extra hands here :)

    You will be able to learn the sami and the norwegian language.

    Mum and dad are both joikers, wich is the sami way of singing. We sure would learn you how to joik.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    We mostly need help with housekeeping, cleaning and organizing, cooking, fence repair, berrypicking. Many opportunities.

    If you are good with filming or editing, we appreciate if you can teach us something :)

    Our kids are very much into sports, especially soccer and artpainting. Its a big plus if you have any experiences with coaching kids in these themes. But it is not a requirement.

    Dad Also needs some help On the mountains, either to help Him while feeding the reindeers, with mechanical stuff with our vehicles, Housekeeping, carpentry or whatever shows up:)

    This years plan for the reindeer herding so far:

    des/Jan/Feb/Mar:
    Arctic and cold weather (Often between -25 to -35 degrees) **EXTREME**
    Dad is on the tundra most of the time. Mum needs help at home. You can see the northern lights almost every night now.


    Reindeerhusbandry in Norway has had some rough and tough time the last winters. Too much snow and warmer climate makes the snow melt, and it turns into ice. This means that the animals doesn’t find their food under the snow. This is a direct result of the climateschanges. And all the reindeers need to be fed with hay and pellets. We need some extra hands here :)

    April:
    THE SUN IS BACK for real, and its the best time to be outside now! the whole family is spending almost every weekend with dad In our cottage:)
    Wanna try icefishing with us? Skiing? Or other funny things in the snow?

    At the same time its now time for the easterfestival here. Many things to experience; reindeers races, snowcross, joikconcerts etc. google sami easterfestival :)

    May:
    The climate is getting kinder. Maybe we have +degrees now:)
    The reindeers are getting ready to give birth to the calves. We need to be very careful.

    If we have a little extra time
    Maybe You will be able to try living like our ancestors did, back In the days: in lavvo with bonfire, an amazing experience!

    June:
    - We start marking the reindeer calves with earmarking. Theese are the cutest animals you will ever see! ❤️
    We need help to chase the reindeers to the fence, hold and handle the calves while we mark the ears. NOTE! It will bleed a little, so you have to endure seeing blood.
    - We also start to repair the many fences we have. We are staying on the mountains in 1-2 weeks . Still living in a lavvo/tent.

    July:
    - Still repairing and putting up a new fences.
    - Second part of this years earmarking of the reindeer calves. This time we have moved with the reindeer to the biggest mountains we have here. That means that we are surrounded by the most spectacular nature we have here. Google: Livnas Porsanger Norway. Note! You may have to walk up the mountains because We only got one atv. But that will be a wonderfull hikingtrip😊

    Also, Say hello to the mosquitos :) NOT dangerous ones :)

    August:
    - Still repairing and putting up a new fences.
    - Now the berries in our fantastic nature are ready to be picked. We pick blueberries, cloudberries and lingonberries, and have a berryparadise just outside the door.

    Sept:
    - Still repairing and putting up a new fences.
    Time to have the reindeer in the fence again, but this time we are on the coast.
    Get ready for a little exercise, because the reindeers we are going to handle this time is much bigger then the small calves from last time. We are looking for the ones who can handle long and hard workingdays. Its an advantage if you're in a good shape. We separate reindeers and send them with an animaltransportation trailer to the slaughterhouse. We also slaughter reindeers by hand, and would be happy for your help here. Its an advantage if you have any experience with slaughtering, But not a must. Note!
    You have to endure seeing that we kill and slaughter the reindeers.

    Oct:
    The leaves have fallen and the night frost has arrived. The earth is getting ready for winter.
    Mum needs help with her videoproject. Are you a good videographer? Videoediting? Or do you have any other experiences with filming?
    Please take contact. We have some very exciting things going on. (oct/nov/dec)

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Norwegian: Fluent
    Sami: Fluent

    This host offers a language exchange
    This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
    You can contact them directly for more information.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    You will be staying and living with us, in our house when we are home, and with us in our place on the mountains with our reindeers. We may have a caravan for the volunteers as their private room.

    Most of our meals are with meat (reindeer, pork, chicken+). Dont expect vegetarian food.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We have the sami parlament here in town And some other sami tourist attractions. In wintertime the cold and rough weather will give you an experience you wont find other places. In wintertime You will experince the northernlight almost every evening.

    Other things we do: drive snowmobiles or atv/utv, go fishing on lakes in the mountains, flyfishing in one of Norways best Salmonrivers Lakselva.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    This host can provide space for campervans.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    5 hours per day (max 25 hours/week)

Host ref number: 748735348331

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