Karasjok is the Sami Capital of Norway. The Sami are ‘The indigenous people of the Arctic' extending throughout Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. For centuries Sami life was based on hunting and fishing, and since the 16th century they transformed into a nomadic herding economy with the domestication of reindeer, however today only 15% of Sami are involved full-time in this activity.
This is their Parliament building…. the parliament has no legal power however they do act in an advisory capacity and represent the voice of the Sami in Norway and internationally (even including the Fisheries Board in Aberdeen!)
The design takes its cues from traditional Sami culture and includes this Lavvu shaped amphitheatre...….
Inside the Plenary Assembly room…...
This stone is a local type of marble that Kate took quite a shine to (see later)
The painting on the rear wall is to represent that an argument has two sides……... the other half is literally on the other side of the wall !
These are two of the paintings that were found in a basement in Oslo in 1997……they are the originals of Sami Elders who met to discuss the need for Sami representation in Norway and are dated 1917
The wooden church in Karasjok dates from 1807 and is the oldest timber church in Finnmark. It is also the ONLY building in town to survive the destruction in World War Two when the Germans leaving Karasjok burnt everything to the ground.
Nice wooden boat!
Didn’t expect to see this parked in someones garden!
Upon leaving Karasjok the road rises up to a plateau over 1000ft above sea level………..it goes on and on and on and on………………..
Remember the stone that Kate took a shine to? We found some! (she took a piece for me to ‘carve’……lol)
Grahame trying to ‘blend’ with the background! (green stripey rock……green stripey shirt…….haha)
and again another lovely night stop by a river…..
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