Today was the third day of the World Reindeer Herders Congress and this  marked the day when delegates moved outside. After a short tour of the Kautokeino slaughterhouse, congress buses drove north towards the small village of Lahpoluobbal, a tiny Sámi reindeer herding village in the high plateau of the Finnmark vidda. The village is in the midst of the winter pastures of the head of the Norwegian Sami Reindeer Herders Association, Nils Henrik Sara, who greeted the delegates with a welcome to his siida where they had set up several lavvut (Sámi traditional tents) and served reindeer meat. A large herd was gathered near the road and delegates had the chance to participate in herding activities and observe Sámi reindeer herding work up close. 
 

Innovation Norway and their partners laid  on a demonstration of a new mobile slaughterhouse that can be towed behind a car - an innovative approach to creating market based solutions to the challenge of bringing reindeer meat to market that meets national and international food hygiene regulations. Congress delegates were able to observe Sámi slaughtering techniques at first hand. 

The day ended with a lassoo throwing competition. The lassoo is the tool that all reindeer herders from around the world have in common and it has been said that as the lassoo extends the human arm by some 15 metres, it represents the difference between life and death in the North. Traditionally made of reindeer skin, plastic lassoos are becoming more popular, but both were in use today. Herders from Nenets, Yamal, Mongolia, Sapmi and Buryatia competed. And the best? Two Nenets herders - Vassily Serotetto and Nyadma Khudi demonstrated just why Nenets are renowned for their reindeer handling skills. 

• Nils Henrik Sara, NBR leader and host for the herd visit. Pic- Philip Burgess Nils Henrik Sara, NBR leader and host for the herd visit. Pic- Philip Burgess
• Nenets elder visits the herd Pic- Philip Burgess Nenets elder visits the herd Pic- Philip Burgess
• Mongolian reindeer herder. Pic- Philip Burgess Mongolian reindeer herder. Pic- Philip Burgess
• Eveny, Evenki and Nenets herders visiting a Sami herd. Pic -Philip Burgess Eveny, Evenki and Nenets herders visiting a Sami herd. Pic -Philip Burgess
• Sami herders observing the herd.Pic- Philip Burgess Sami herders observing the herd.Pic- Philip Burgess
• Sami and Evenki compare reindeer ear marks in the snow. Pic- Philip Burgess Sami and Evenki compare reindeer ear marks in the snow. Pic- Philip Burgess
• Elder Sami herder and participant. Pic- Philip Burgess Elder Sami herder and participant. Pic- Philip Burgess
• Ravdna Biret Marja Eira (right) is one of the Congress organisers. Ravdna Biret Marja Eira (right) is one of the Congress organisers.
• Sami reindeer herder Sami reindeer herder
• Young herders from Kautokeino / Guovdageaidnu Young herders from Kautokeino / Guovdageaidnu
• Evenki herder Vasily Germogenof testing lassoo skills Evenki herder Vasily Germogenof testing lassoo skills
• Nenets herder Nyadma Khudi shows the delegates how it done... Nenets herder Nyadma Khudi shows the delegates how it done...
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Tomorrow will see reindeer racing and the World championships in lassoo casting, a feature of each Reindeer congress, with a 10,000 NOK prize.