FOREST SAAMI UNIQUE The forest Saami in the past inhabited a large Lappstaden in Arvidsjaur church town is unique portion of the forested areas in the interior of – nowhere else are there so many well-preserved Upper Norrland. Today their territory is limited forest Saami gåhties (Saami pyramid-shaped to the inland area between Vittangi in Norr- dwelling) as here. Their form combines that of the botten County down to Malå in Västerbotten round gåhtie tent with the square timber dwelling. County with Arvidsjaur as the core area. The Lappstaden has never been used for permanent life of the forest Saami is adapted to that of living; only for overnight stays during church festi- the forest reindeer, which finds all its forage vals. · 2013 G TC P r intin g: E le x s pråk b yrå. o n : anslati in forest areas and never needs to move to the mountains. Before the 18th century, forest A POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE reindeer husbandry was small-scale, every The buildings in Lappstaden are owned by the household keeping about 10 domesticated re- forest Saami themselves and are still in use. Here, indeer. Hunting, and above all fishing, brought people stay to spend time the staple nutrition. together and the tradition survives of spending the

THE GREAT CHANGE night in Lappstaden Tr o n . r inf or mati hu g in & munin k ultu a p hic desi g n :: th th KIRUNA During the 18 and 19 centuries, conditions during the church changed. The forestlands were populated by t and & gr

feast, the last week- T e x non-nomadic settlers, who were allotted land end in August. that by tradition had provided reindeer forage. Families enjoy JOKKMOKK LAPPSTADEN Many forest Saami abandoned their traditional coming here – way of life, while others specialised, increasing there is a positive ARJEPLOG the size of their herds. In Arvidsjaur Municipali- atmosphere in ARVIDSJAUR LULEÅ ARVIDSJAUR ty today, there are three sijddas (Saami = group Lappstaden! PITEÅ of companies or district for reindeer keeping) that actively herd forest reindeer.

ARVIDSJAUR

Former church site In Lappstaden there are display boards that in words and pictures tell the story of Lappstaden and those who use it – make a visit! 95 For more information: Arvidsjaurs Turistbyrå Lappstaden TEL: 0960 – 175 00 Church www.arvidsjaur.se foto: göran westerlund foto: göran westerlund foto: göran westerlund

LAPPSTADEN, FARMERS’ TOWN, TRADESMEN’S THE STORSTÄMNING FEAST CHURCH TOWNS TOWN Once a year Lappstaden becomes a hive of acti- There have been 71 church towns in Sweden – In the early 17th century the first churches were vity – and that is at Storstämning, during the last all but one of them located in the two northern- built in the vast regions of Lapland, and the weekend in August – make a visit! According to most counties of Sweden. Today, 16 church church in Arvidsjaur was completed in 1607. the priest Petrus Laestadius 1831, this was: ”the towns remain, of which Gammelstad Church The church was to bring to the Saami Christia- main feast of the Arvidsjaur Lapps...”. ”Nowhere Town in Luleå is the biggest and best-preserved, nity and Christian teachings. A so-called church else were the catechetical home visits as solemn and since 1996 is listed as a World Heritage site. attendance law stipulated a minimum level of as here...”. The first churches in Upper Norrland were attendance, but this was difficult for the nomadic A Storstämning nowadays lasts from Friday built in place where people were used to congre- Saami to fulfil. Since the road to church was long to Sunday, beginning and ending in church. gating: in Arvidsjaur the church town overnight gåhties were built, and nearby the During the feast, there is a meeting, always was located in a forest Saami winter area. settlers built their church cottages. The site of well-attended, of the Saami association, and In connection with church feasts fairs were also the first church was some way from the present in connection with the meeting the different held. In the church town there were also cells, Lappstaden – and was moved to its present site Saami sijddas take time to discuss questions and a bailiff’s office and a hostelry – with the school in the early 19th century. issues of common interest. During the Saturday housed in the courtroom building. The church In addition to Lappstaden for the Saami there there are contests for reindeer herders in marks- town filled a much-felt need in Upper Norrland. is also a farmers’ section, where the permanent manship and lassoing, and on the Sunday there It was a “temporary town” in an area that long dwellers of the parish has their church cottages is a dried-meat auction. Before leaving Lappsta- lacked a sustainable base for a town. and a section where tradesmen owned houses. den, folk gather for a church service in the Saami This last section has had to make way for pre- association’s gåhtie. The feast is over. sent-day Arvidsjaur, but Lappstaden lives on!