Goahti
to show who it belongs to
Earmarking
When it follows its mother it can be identified as the calf of that particular reindeer, but by the following spring it grows into a űeapmat and leaves its mother.
The main earmarks show the family to whom the reindeer belongs, and the extra earmarks show the individual member of the family to whom it belongs.
A reindeer without an earmark is called gežzotbeallji.
Reindeer Husbandry Act
Chapter 4 - Marking of reindeer
Section 23 - Reindeer Earmark
1) Each reindeer must be marked with the owner's reindeer earmark which has been approved by the Association of Reindeer Herding Co-operatives on the recommendation of the board of the reindeer herding co-operative....Each reindeer owner may have one reindeer earmark. A reindeer herding cooperative and the Association of Reindeer Herding Co-operatives may, however, have two reindeer earmarks.
2) In the area specifically intended for reindeer herding, the reindeer earmark must as far as possibly be on the basis of traditionally observed principles (kinship earmark).
3) Further provisions on reindeer earmarks, on the making of them, on how to apply for them, and on how they are granted are given by decree.
Section 24 - The marking of specific reindeer
1) A calf following a female reindeer and an unmarked reindeer that is more than one year old must be marked with the reindeer earmark of the owner of the female reindeer. Other unmarked reindeer must be sold by the chairman of the reindeer herding co-operative. It if is established that a reindeer marked with the reindeer earmark of the reindeer herding co-operative is following a female reindeer not belonging to the reindeer herding co-operative, the reindeer earmark of the reindeer must be changed so that the reindeer is marked with the reindeer earmark of the owner of the female reindeer.
5.4 Animal identification According to the report: "In reindeer husbandry, the reindeer owners establish a system for identification based on cuts in the ears. This system is known only to the owners and is not centrally registered."
We like to point out that the ear marking system is an official marking system according to Act on Reindeer herding (1990). According to this act the Association of reindeer herding co-operatives approves new reindeer earmarks and maintains a register of them. Although veterinary supervisors, authorities and officers are not able to read ear marks fluently, the ear marking system does serve very well the needs of reindeer herding. Since more than 75% of the slaughtered animals are yearlings a tattoo is not a practical solution.
Source courtesy of: The Saami. A Cultural Encyclopaedia. Ed. Kulonen, Seurujärvi & Pulkkinen (2005), and the Reindeer Husbandry Act (848/1990; and amendments 54/2000)
Images courtesy of: home.earthlink.net/~arran2/archive/reindeer-brands.htm
