Cape Wild

– I hope to spread knowledge and understanding about the Sami culture and give my guests a meeting that is felt in the heart, says Marita Sikku, who just a few months ago made a career change from high school teacher to self-employed.
– Anyone who visits Dálvvas should get an authentic Sami experience, which gives them a greater insight into the Sami lifestyle.
The reindeer graze freely in the Kiruna Mountains from April to December. Then some of them are moved to First Camp and Dálvvás in Luleå for winter grazing.
Marita Sikku changed her career path from high school teacher to self-employed in tourism to give visitors an encounter with Sami culture.
The close encounter begins right out in the reindeer pasture, where the animals wait to be fed from the hand. Some are still more shy than others as they have just arrived from the mountains in Kiruna to the winter pasture in Luleå. Dálvvás means “over the winter” in Sami, and when spring comes, the reindeer move up to the mountains again to graze freely.
– After the visit to the pasture, I invite the guests into the traditional lávvun (tent hut), where I serve Sami delicacies such as my mother’s homemade gáhkku (flat bread) by the árran (fire), along with boiled coffee, lingonberry juice, cloudberries and reindeer meat that my partner has salted, smoked and dried.
Here, by the crackling fire, Marita Sikku tells us more about the Sami language, clothing, food and traditions.
– I share my own experiences based on the Sami culture that I grew up in. It is important to make knowledge visible and spread and give as accurate a picture as possible of Sami life.
– To give an insight into what reindeer herding is, visitors can try throwing a lasso! I hope that Dálvvás remains a lifelong memory from their visit to Luleå.
Coffee, bread and dried reindeer meat are some of the things that visitors can try.
Text: Alexandra Nyman
Photos: Ida Lundh
Dálvvás is open December to March and accepts a minimum of two people, maximum twelve, at a time. Please inform us of any allergies before your visit. Enjoy!
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