Explore More UK Winter 2020-2021

DISCOVERY
SÁMI: A TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE
The Sámi are an indigenous people inhabiting
Sápmi, which encompasses northern parts of
Finland, Sweden, Norway and the Kola Peninsula
of Russia. Descended from nomadic groups that
once roamed northern Scandinavia, the Sámi
are known for their close relationship with the
natural world, in which reindeer herding, fishing
and farming are all important traditional ways
of life. Today, Sámi parliaments protect and
promote the cultural autonomy and political
interests of the Sámi at an international level.
Clockwise, from
above: Jørn
Henriksen; the
Arctic landscape;
a polar bear with
her three cubs
spotted by Jørn
at Wilhelmøya in
Svalbard; Jørn’s
great grandfather,
Gustav Johannes,
is the little boy
in the upper left,
alongside a group
of Dutch tourists
in Gibostad, North
Norway, in 1893
I’m Norwegian, born
and bred in the city of
TromsØ. Whilst many
people consider the
Arctic a romantic area – full of
mysticism, legends and struggles
in harsh conditions, expressed
by phenomena like the Northern
Lights, Santa Claus and stories
about explorers attempting to
reach an extremity – I call the
Arctic home. It is the foundation
both for my work and for my
family. I have previously headed
many expeditions across the
My ARCTIC
Jørn Henriksen, Director of Expedition Operations
at Viking Expeditions, discusses his relationship with
the Arctic – the place he calls ‘home’
Arctic throughout my career, and
it is a real privilege to be part of
the Viking Expeditions team.
My family is embedded in
the Arctic, and via a branch on
my fathers side, rooted in the
indigenous Sámi people. The Sámi
populate Fenno-Scandinavia (the
northern part of Norway, Finland
and Sweden) and they are perhaps
best known for being reindeer
herders. My great grandfather was
Sámi, but during his lifetime his
community was under an immense,
state-driven pressure to assimilate
and become ‘Norwegian’. As a
result, he was given the name
Henriksen instead of taking the
family name of Omma.
This part of my family history
was ‘watered out’ and our Sámi
identity became more distant
with each passing generation.
However, I’m immensely proud of
my ancestors – they were Arctic
experts, living in harmony with
nature and exercising their ancient
traditions, whilst the rest of the
world was speeding into
the Industrial Revolution.
PHOTOS: © SHUTTERSTOCK
If there is one thing that stands
out for me about the Arctic, it must
be the midnight sun and the endless
days of summer, when I can wander
into nature without thinking of it
getting dark. I also love the pitchblack
mid-winter days when the sun
is below the horizon, even at noon,
and the aurora borealis dance across
the sky in the evening.
These seasonal variations really
dictate how I spend my spare time.
They also make it a fantastic place
to visit, both in summer and winter.
I love the treeless tundra, featuring
colourful high-alpine flora – a place
that is so robust, yet subtle and
delicate at the same time.
I have been so lucky to spend
parts of my professional life as an
expedition leader in what I call
‘The High Arctic’ – areas between
74° and 81° North. The archipelago
of Svalbard and the north-eastern
part of Greenland have really been
etched into my mind. As opposed
to the Arctic part of the Norwegian
mainland, these are areas where
polar bears, muskox, polar wolves,
arctic fox and the all-white version
of peregrine falcon roam.
These are extreme places where
travelling in nature requires
particular skills, places where you
quickly learn that, if you attempt to
defy nature, you may put your life
in danger. For many inhabitants of
the Arctic, being in the wilderness
is second nature and nothing to talk
about. However, I believe that my
appreciation of the fact that I come
from a place that is inhospitable
to many is something I have been
able to harness in my choice of
profession. Above all, I love seeing
visitors mesmerised by the immense
beauty of the Arctic.
54 VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK | WINTER 2020/21
WINTER 2020/21 | VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK 55