About the participants
Aina
Age 73 years, Rans sameby
Aina is the first woman to have received a government medal for her achievements in reindeer herding. She has spent all her life with reindeer herding. During her 73 years she has seen great changes. In the old days she used to ski many miles, child and provisions on her back - now she takes to the hills on a four-wheeler or a snow scooter. On top of this more than challenging work Aina has raised five children. At the same time she has been involved in work for the organisation and rights of the Sami. Aina has also been an expert member of government commissions on matters of reindeer herding.
Aina believes in the future. She hopes that children and grandchildren will be given the opportunity of following in her footsteps. When the Sami village is taken to court she must witness about her ancestors' livelihood, and her own. The case puts a great strain and burden on her. If the village loses, there may be no future for the Sami.
Elisabeth
Age 49 years, Sirges sameby
Elisabeth is a woman who stands up for herself in a male-dominated trade. She hunts elk, she slaughters and cuts up the meat. She is the strongwoman, with a headstrongness that makes anything possible as long as you are determined enough. Elisabeth has not grown up with reindeer herding, but it has been her life since she met her husband, herdsman Per-Anders. Today it is as natural for her to round up the herd and brand the calves as it is for Per-Anders to stay at home and look after the children, but being a woman she has the main responsibility for home and family.
The family live on what Nature provides them with. Content with life, they meet every day with warmth and good humour. Her children Sanna and Antaris know of no other life than reindeer herding. Work, leisure and family life are one undivided unit.
Lisa
Age 26 years, Vapstens sameby
Lisa likens the meeting between the Sami and the non-Sami world to a couple of soap bubbles touching each other. Both are beautiful, they are together, but there will always be a divide, a boundary between them.
Lisa studies to be a P.E. teacher and helps her father with the reindeer half-time. Then the accident happens. Almost three years ago Lisa and her father have a frontal collision with an oncoming car. Both suffer serious injuries. Lisa lies in coma for a month, on the ridge between life and death. She survives only by miracle. Her way back to life is long and she is still struggling for recovery.
Today she works with the reindeer as much as she is able to. She wants to make use of her time and perhaps, in the future, she may be able to take over after her father.
The film makers
Original music for Herdswoman is beeing created by Nina Sarri Vahlberg. She is a graduate from the Royal College of Music and a freelance composer and music artist.
