The young river Sami Hánsa was rowing his sleek riverboat along the banks of the Finnish side of the Tana River when he noticed a small, abandoned reindeer calf in the tall grass. Too weak to keep up with its mother, the calf had fallen behind and the rest of the herd moved on. Hánsa lifted the bouncing animal into the boat and rowed over to the Levajok mountain lodge on the Norwegian side. The owner Ivar- along with his daughter Inger and granddaughter Anne - shared a deep love for animals. With horses and dogs already in their care, they were happy to take in the beautiful, white reindeer calf as well.
Maria E.Y. Savabini, Britt Rajala, Jørgen Ulriksen (ill.)
Maria E.Y. Savabini is a Sámi writer whose work contributes to contemporary children’s literature in the Sámi language. She is co-author of the North Sámi picture book Miessi – mánná namma lei Sikká (2025), a story rooted in Sámi landscapes and storytelling traditions. Through her writing, Savabini helps support the continued use and development of Sámi language in literature for younger audiences, bringing cultural knowledge and everyday experiences in Sápmi to life for new generations.
Britt Rajala is a Sámi writer and scholar whose work engages with Sámi culture, literature, and Indigenous perspectives. In addition to her contributions to literary research on Sámi and Indigenous peoples, she is also a co-author of children’s literature, including Miessi – mánná namma lei Sikká (2025). Rajala’s work bridges academic insight and storytelling, reflecting a commitment to preserving and communicating Sámi knowledge, identity, and cultural heritage across generations.
