Kautokeino

Kautokeino (Guovdageainnu suohkan in Sámi) is a municipality in the county of Finnmark, Norway. The administration is located in the township of Kautokeino (Guovdageaidnu in Sámi, Koutokeino in Finnish).

The most significant industries in Kautokeino are reindeer herding, theatre/movie industry, and the public education system.

1 The name
2 Coat-of-arms
3 Geography
4 Climate
5 Cultural events
6 Institiutions
7 Notable people from Kautokeino
8 External links

[edit] The name

Kautokeino is a Norwegianized form of the Sámi name Guovdageaidnu. The first element is guovda 'middle; half', the last element is geaidnu 'road'. Combined it means 'half way', as the location is half way between two traditional migrating points. It's also the geographic centre of Northern Sápmi, and is therefore historically the meeting point of the Sámi.

[edit] Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1987). It shows a lavvu.

[edit] Geography

Kautokeino is the southernmost municipality of Finnmark and shares border with Alta, Norway to the north, Karasjok to the east, Nordreisa and Kvænangen in Troms county to the west, and Enontekiö in Finland to the south.

At 9704 km², it is the largest municipality in Norway. A total of approximately 10000 lakes cover 640 km². Gender ratio amounts to 86 women for every 100 men. More than 50% of the population is less than 30 years old.

The Kautokeino River runs from a lake at the Finnish border, north through the townships of Kautokeino and Máze before it leaves into Alta municipality and changes name to Altaelva. The river is collectively known as the Kautokeino/Alta-vassdraget and was the site of a major political controversy in the late 1970s and early 80s.

[edit] Climate

Kautokeino is located in the Arctic highlands of Northern Norway. During five weeks of summer, the sun doesn't set, and during six weeks of winter, the sun doesn't rise.

Average precipitation is 360 mm/year, which is one of the lowest precipitation in the country. It is also claimed that this is comparable to parts of the Sahara desert, with the major difference being that with the lower temperatures and greater vegetation, Kautokeino doesn't dry up as fast.

During summer, temperatures typically range between 18 and 28 °C. While this is nice for humans, the temperature, combined with 10000 lakes, makes it a haven for mosquitos. Consequently, both humans and reindeer tend to flee to the coast for the summer. Sihcjavri in Kautokeino municipality has recorded the warmest temperature ever in Northern Norway: 34.3°C on June 23 1920.

While winter usually lasts from mid-October till mid-May, the hard winter is only for December-February. During hard winter, temperatures can drop as far as -40 °C and beyond. The yearly average temperature over the last 30 years is -2.7 °C.

The dry climate, however, makes the cold temperatures more bearable; -6 °C in Kautokeino feels the same way as +8 °C feels on the coast. The dryness combined with cold also makes Kautokeino a prime spot to watch the Aurora Borealis.

[edit] Cultural events

Kautokeino still functions as the cultural center of Northern Sápmi today. Easter is the traditional time when Sámis gather from all over the place, to participate in weddings, confirmations, and of course, the Sámi Easter Festival. This festival includes concerts, reindeer races, snowmobile races, ice fishing competitions and the Sámi Melody Grand Prix, a Sámi version of the Eurovision Song Contest.

In June, the annual Kautokeino Walk / Bicycle Ride, has Sámis return to Kautokeino, just to walk a few kilometres, or ride a bicycle for twice the distance.

In August, there is the White Fish festival, as well as the Autumn Festival. The latter is a weekend-long party full of concerts, but also includes snowmobile races on the river, which, for the record, is NOT frozen in August. If you go too slow, or make too sharp a turn, the snowmobile will sink.

[edit] Institiutions

Beaivvas Sámi Teahter is the National Sámi Theatre located in Kautokeino. As a national stage company, they play a major role in making Sámi history and culture visible.

The Sámi Joatkkaskuvla ja Boazodoalloskuvla is the Sámi High School and Reindeer Herding School. As a high school, there is emphasis on Sámi, rather than Norwegian culture. Most teachers also speak Sámi as their mother tongue. It is possible to study duodji (traditional Sámi crafts) and, as the name suggests, reindeer herding. In fact, it is the only high school in the world that features a reindeer herding class.

College education can be achieved at the Sámi allaskuvla - the Sámi University College.

[edit] Notable people from Kautokeino

Ole Henrik Magga - the first president of the Norwegian Sámi Parliament and currently the president of the UN permanent forum for indigenous people.
Ingor Ante Ante Mihkkal Gaup - Joiker
Ingor Ante Ailu Gaup - Musician and actor
Niko Valkeäpää - Musician, winner of the Norwegian Spelemannsprisen in 2004. (Originally from Finland, but he lives and breathes in Kautokeino.)
Nils Gaup - director who earned an Academy Award Nomination for his movie "The Pathfinder"

[edit] External links

Kautokeino Municipality Official Website
Destinasjon Kautokeino Tourist office
Kautokeino.Com is the major online "meeting point" (mostly Norwegian and Sámi)
Sámi Joatkkaskuvla ja Boazodoalloskuvla
Sámi University College
Beaivvas Sámi Teahter

Municipalities of Finnmark
Alta \| Berlevåg \| Båtsfjord \| Gamvik \| Hammerfest \| Hasvik \| Karasjok \| Kautokeino \| Kvalsund \| Lebesby \| Loppa \| Måsøy \| Nesseby \| Nordkapp \| Porsanger \| Sør-Varanger \| Tana \| Vadsø \| Vardø