Sevettijärvi schoolchildren learn Skolt Sámi seine fishing

Schoolchildren in Sevettijärvi took part in traditional Skolt Sámi seine fishing this week, as the village’s shared net brought residents together, Yle reports.

The school set aside a full day for the fishing. Two boats are used to set the net in the lake, then people work together to pull it ashore. The net has been used four times this summer.

Experienced fishers Tauno Porsanger and Juha Feodoroff have been seine fishing since childhood. They say it is important to pass on the tradition to young people.

“It is such fun to do this together with the schoolchildren. They learn, and we get to hear their stories,” Feodoroff said. Porsanger said the children are the ones who seine fish, while there are few other people in the village to join them.

Five-year-old Feela Feodoroff has been seine fishing twice this summer. This time, she rode in a boat to watch the older fishers. “I have taken the net and put it in the lake with the grown-ups,” she said.

Fourth-grader Kiureli Harju had never seine fished before, although he fishes with his father in his spare time. He helped pull in the net and said the catch included a large pike. The haul also included grayling and whitefish.

Seine fishing is an important part of Skolt Sámi fishing culture. In the past, every family had a seine, but its use has declined. Pulling the net along the lake bed also cleans the lake, according to the article.

For the village, the tradition’s most important role is bringing people together to fish, prepare food and eat as a group. Feodoroff said she would like to see it done more often so more people can take part.