Precious blood and nourishing offal: past and present slaughtering perspectives in Sámi reindeer pastoralism

Abstract In the Arctic, indigenous reindeer herding peoples rely on a pastoralist food and knowledge system that supplies them with protein, vitamins, minerals. Reindeer pastoralism is product of interaction between animals’ physical needs, their behaviour, skills herders. The systems Sámi pastoralists depend about mountain slaughtering. When first stationary slaughterhouse opened in Guovdageaidnu (Northern Norway) 1957, rationalisation husbandry methods slaughter took place. Animal welfare within slaughterhouses are well-documented Norway; historical slaughtering mountains, however, barely documented danger being lost. A qualitative study entailing interviews five herders (50–80 years old) from Varanger explains indigenous, nomadic killing reindeer. traditional way (Sámi: giehtadit ) was to pierce heart large knife through chest mielga ), particularly pastures close where herd grazed avoid distressing before taking lives. This allowed use whole for food, unlike practice slaughterhouses, which merely utilises select muscles human consumption. Although Supreme Court Norway 2008 ruled without stunning illegal, this account provides evidence method rational kill reindeer, as bleeding (haemorrhage) thorax offers both high-quality blood, offal, meat We conclude based systematic, complex, holistic determines foods eat.