"Sustainability is something we
do together, making it easier!"
What is
sustainability?
Solidarity – togetherness – fair
consumption of the earth’s resources. Not only today,
but for the future as well.
All shall get what they need, both socially and
economically. This means that those who have a lot
must share with those who have little, so that it
evens out.
Sustainability contains many parts:
nature, people, resources, economy and society.
How do we get these to fit together in a way
that makes sure that our actions today make
the world a better place tomorrow?
What is
Sámi?
The Sámi are an indigenous people in Norway,
Sweden, Finland and Russia. To be an indigenous
people means that it is an ethnic group,
which lived in an area before the borders
between the states were drawn.
There are many different Sámi languages,
and diverse traditions. In Norway we have
south Sámi, pite Sámi, lule Sámi, north
Sámi and skolt Sámi.
At Várjjat/Varanger Sámi museum we are responsible
for conveying the sea Sámi cultural heritage,
which is a part of the north Sámi language group.
Nesseby


What is
packaging?
Packaging is everything that something is packed,
transported or stored in.
Packaging is products used for wrapping, storing,
protecting and transporting of goods from producer
to consumer.
Packaging is used both for raw materials and
processed goods and can be made of many different
materials such as glass, wood, plastic, metal or
paper. Packaging is designed according to it’s use:
bottles, cans, boxes and bags.
Now a days most items are packaged and stored in
plastic. Up until World War II people in Varanger
had little plastic packaging, but what did they
use in stead?
Examples of Sámi sustainable packaging
All these are made by hand from raw materials fetched from nature or animals in the adjascent area. They are made of natural materials, which will degrade and go back to nature without polluting.





Wood
Salt bottle
Butter box
Chests
Bucket



Horn
Gunpowder horn
Bein




Needle house
Match box
Roots


Root box





Skins
Knife-sheath
Gunpowder
bag
Seal-skin
backpack
Coffeebag
Reindeer
backpack
Birch bark as
packaging?
Birch bark is an example of sustainable material
for packaging. In the municipality of Unjárga/Nesseby,
birch bark is widely available, free and renewable.
A birch bark basket is an example of how one can
make something from nature, which can go back to
nature without leaving traces behind. This has been
a fundamental ethical rule of life in Sámi areas.
At Várjjat/Varanger Sámi museum we have baskets made
from birch bark, in northern Sámi language called
geavllet or guošši. These have, among other things,
been used for berrypicking and egg collecting. Birch
bark is a material which is sustainable, provided
that you cut the bark in a gentle way. Birch bark
was used for many purposes: roofing, underlying turf
on turfhuts, floating devise for fishing nets, and
storage. Historically birch bark has also been seen
as having magical significance. In old Sámi graves
the dead have been wrapped in birch bark. We are
not sure why.
How?
You cut very carefully with a sharp knife down
along the tree trunk in the time of year when
the birch has most sap, around mid summer. Then
the bark is loose and will let go of the tree
trunk. The tree will look ugly afterwards, and
it will take several years before the bark has
grown back. It is very important not to cut too
deep, as you will hurt the inner layer of the
bark. Then the tree might die.
It is best if you can take bark from birches
that are already cut down for firewood, because
then the tree is already dead. Then you can use
the length of the firewood, and cut down along
the trunk. The wood has to be fresh, not dried.
Then you will get a sheet of bark, which you
can make a basket of.










If you are not making the basket right away, then
you have to spread it out flat and put something
heavy on top of it while it dries. Otherwise it will
curl up into a hard roll, which is difficult to use.
To tie together the sides of the basket and to make
the handle you can use a thin twig of willow, roe or
other soft wood. It doesn’t have to be birch. You will
need three twigs, which should be 50-70 cm long. Use a
knife to scrape off the bark of the twigs. Thread
the twigs through holes in the bark, that are made
by using a hole plier or knife.
Why?
Because birch bark is free, it only demands some effort.
At least if there are birch trees in your surroundings,
and you are allowed to use them. It is very important to
ask permission to cut down trees or cut loose bark!
Birch bark is antiseptic, which means that it kills
bacteria. Therefore it is nice to store food in.
Birch bark can be shaped and you don’t need a lot of
tools. You can make a basket using only a sharp knife.
Birch bark is a renewable resource. That means that
it will grow out on the tree again, if you cut it
loose in the right manner.
Birch bark will turn into soil if it is left in nature.
If you forget your basket on a berry picking trip, you
have not polluted, as it will become a part of nature
again.
If it is difficult to get hold of birch bark or
fresh birch wood, you can use paper in stead. It
is also made from trees, and will become earth
again in nature.
Create your own
paper basket

You need:
- A3 Sheets
- Scissor
- Pencil or pen
- Thread or yarn
- Needle
- Ruler