Ealát: Pasture | Eallu: Herd | Eallin: Life

Welcome to the website for the EALÁT project: An International Polar Year (IPY) endorsed project (No. 399) and also endorsed by the Arctic Council.

EALÁT is a Reindeer Herders Vulnerability Network Study and is a project that examines reindeer pastoralism in the light of climate change. On this site you will find background information about the project, presentations by Ealát researchers, details of the various work packages, lots of news related to the project, a wide variety of photo galleries, web video pages and more.

Ealát is Sámi word with a multi layered meaning. Ealát signifies  'Pasture', but related words Eallu means 'Herd' while Eallin means 'Life' in the Sámi language. The primary research institution in EALÁT is the Sámi University College-Nordic Sámi Institute (SUC-NSI). A wide number of other research institutions are involved in the project, along with the Association of World Reindeer Herders(WRH) and the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry. All these bodies are located in the heart of the Sámi region, Guovdageaidnu-Kautokeino, Norway. Learn more about IPY EALAT here.

Fikret Berkes: What is Traditional Knowledge?

EALAT Information Workshop Chukotka, March 2008

EALAT Outreach & Information

The International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry (ICR) is responsible for outreach and information functions of the Ealát project. ICR planned, coordinated and executed the Opening Ceremony of the Indigenous Peoples International Polar Year, the details of which are here. ICR is responsible for the EALAT-Information project, which is entitled 'Reindeer Herding, traditional knowledge and Adaptation to Climate Change and Loss of Grazing Land' which is endorsed by the Arctic Council.

Myter, misforståelser og fakta om klima

"Vi har samlet endel myter og spørsmål omkring klima som ofte dukker opp. Disse er besvart av Cecilie Mauritzen, Inger Hanssen-Bauer og Rasmus Benestad - alle klimaforskere ved met.no"

EALAT Work Packages

The EALAT research project is divided across many institutions and organisations in several countries. At the core of the project are 7 'Work Packages', which are self contained areas of research and invesigation that cover the wide range of issues that EALAT addresses. Read more about the Work Packages here

Upcoming Lecture!

Eva Wiklund, a Senior Meat Scientist at AgResearch, New Zealand's largest crown research institute based Hamilton, will be presenting an open seminar on reindeer meat quality in Kautokeino / Guovdageaidnu. Open to all, the seminar is scheduled for May 26 and will be webcast. Watch this space for more information.

Latest Presentation

EALAT is a network that draws on the expertise of a great number of partners which we will highlight here. Professor Erik Reinert of the Sami University College presentation and paper to the Royal Geographical Society, London is now available. See this and more here.

Joint Statement by the Arctic Caucus – ICC and the Saami Council

"We hope that the Arctic will be highlighted by the UN as a special focal point, as it is there that the effects of climate change have been felt the earliest and are – at the moment – the most visible and most severe,” Patricia Cochran, Chair of Inuit Circumpolar Council said on behalf of the Saami Council and Inuit Circumpolar Council. .

Read the full speech from the UN Permanent Forum, April 2008

EALAT Seminar - Now Online!

The EALAT Seminar on Traditional Knowledge has just wrapped in Kautokeino/ Guovdageaidnu and was a great success with over 80 participants. Speakers included Dr. Fikret Berkes, Dr. Carsten Smith, and EALAT Projects leaders Ole Henrik Magga and Svein Mathiesen.

Go here for more information and links to online recordings.