Mujttalus

Arjeplog is home to a rich and varied Sámi culture. Traditional Sámi livelihoods include not only reindeer herding, but also hunting, fishing and farming.

It was not until the 17th century that reindeer herding developed to become their primary industry. Before this time, hunting and fishing were the most important livelihoods. In the mid-18th century, a number of homesteads were started by Sámi who had left reindeer herding. The Forest Sámi also sometimes farmed in combination with reindeer herding.

In the 1920s, many reindeer herders from the Karesuando area moved south, including to Arjeplog. They had lost their summer pasturelands in Norway and so were forced to find new lands. Today, a number of different Sámi traditions are represented in Arjeplog; the Northern and Arjeplog Sámi, Mountain and Forest Sámi, hunting and fishing Sámi.

The Mujttalus (Memory) exhibition gives a glimpse of everyday Sámi life and its special occasions. The exhibition showcases the everyday objects that are, and have been, used by Sámi in Arjeplog. These objects, which are not only functional but also very beautiful, reflect women’s and men’s daily lives, children’s games, hunting, fishing and reindeer herding.

Mujttalus means "memory" in Sami