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My name is Mihkkal Aslat Ivvar Sara, and I am the founder and owner of Reindeer Island Hammerfest.
My family has herded reindeer on the islands around Hammerfest for many generations.
This land is our traditional summer pasture, and I grew up on these mountains together with my siblings, surrounded by reindeer, wind, the ocean and endless daylight.
My father spent his entire life herding reindeer here in Hammerfest.
My siblings and I followed him on the land from the moment we could walk.
Each of us chose different paths later in life – my older sister became a Sámi artist, my brother moved to Alta when new regulations made it impossible for him to continue reindeer herding here – but I remained.
Today, I am the only one of my siblings still herding reindeer on the island.
Because of modern laws and reindeer quotas, I am allowed to keep only 75 reindeer – far too few to make a living from traditional herding alone.
The realities of modern life slowly push old knowledge aside. But I refuse to let our traditions disappear.
That is why I started tourism.
Through guided tours, storytelling and authentic reindeer experiences, I continue the traditions of my father and grandfather while sharing them with guests from all over the world.
Tourism gives me the chance to keep reindeer on the island, raise my children in our culture, and keep the knowledge alive for the next generation.
My mother is a Sámi history teacher, and everything you learn on our tours comes from real life, real stories, and real heritage – never something staged for visitors.
Our tours are built on what my family has lived for centuries:
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the deep connection between people and reindeer
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the seasonal rhythms of the land
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the knowledge passed down from elders
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the pride of being Sámi in a changing world
When you visit us, you are not just joining a tour.
You’re stepping into a living tradition – one that my family has protected for generations.
Welcome to Reindeer Island Hammerfest.
I hope you leave with a deeper understanding of who we are and why the reindeer mean everything to us.
If you wish to learn more about my family, our history, and the life behind Reindeer Island, you’re welcome to continue the journey.
