The untamed life of a
female reindeer herder

I ventured into the snow-blanketed forests of Fins Lapland, where the silence was profound, broken only by the crunch of footsteps and the soft calls of reindeer. Far from the lights of Rovaniemi, I found the village of Meltaus, home to Pirita, a young female reindeer herder whose life is rooted in the rhythms of the Arctic.

Pirita grew up surrounded by reindeer, her family’s traditions passed down through generations. By the age of 13, she had already purchased her own small herd, guided by a deep respect for nature. Now, she lives with her partner Pekka, their spirited reindeer dog Riitu, and their young son Veeti, fully devoted to her herd and the land they inhabit.

As we walked through the snowy forest, Pirita explained her bond with the Arctic. “Herding reindeer isn’t just a job,” she said. “It’s a way of being — living with nature, respecting its cycles, and preserving what’s been passed down.” At a clearing, her reindeer grazed peacefully, their pale coats blending with the pristine snow. When I asked how many reindeer she owned, she smiled and replied, “That’s private — like asking about someone’s bank account.”

Through my lens, I captured the timeless beauty of her world: reindeer tracks winding through untouched snow, the quiet intensity of Pirita’s work, and the sunlight filtering through frost-covered trees. Fins Lapland revealed itself as more than just a stunning landscape — it is a place where ancient traditions hold fast, deeply intertwined with the spirit of the wild. — Anouk Sassen