Sámi Four Winds Hat (Ciehgahpir)

Norway

Late 20th century

Wool, cotton, trimming, reindeer fur, ribbon

The Sámi are an indigenous, traditionally semi-nomadic people who inhabit the bleak regions north of the Arctic Circle spanning Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. The strip of reindeer fur in this hat’s trim is a reminder of the essential role that reindeer have played in Sámi culture, which once used the animal for its meat, hides, antlers, milk, and for transportation. By the mid-1960s, however, with the advent of new technologies, herding became less of a way of life and more of a business. For those Sámi who still make their living in a snowy, Arctic climate, reindeer fur remains an important element of clothing due to its warmth. The Four Winds Hat is the traditional style worn in Karasjok, Norway.