Here’s How Europe’s Indigenous Peoples Are Using Food Diplomacy to Save the Arctic

The Sámi community want to protect their long-earned gastronomic traditions across the continent

The glazed seal fat topping a miniature reindeer blood pancake enhances its coppery flavour. Combined with the smoked whale bites that lie on top of the dark flapjack, it is difficult to tell whether this dish tastes more like game or fish. Either way, it’s delicious.

Traditional Indigenous food is based on ingredients harvested from nature: we receive a three-course meal that embodies the richness of Sami cuisine with fish and meat appetisers, a reindeer stew and a squeaky cheese dessert with wild berries.

Sitting on reindeer skin inside the Nomad Indigenous Food Lab which combines a ‘lavvu’ – the traditional Sámi tent – with a stainless steel kitchen, Indigenous youth and chefs tell researchers and policymakers about their struggles in keeping their food culture and tradition alive.