Lola Akinmade Akerstrom January 23, 2013

Jokkmokk Sámi market in Swedish Lapland – in pictures

Every February, the small town of Jokkmokk in Swedish Lapland hosts the 400-year-old winter market of the indigenous Sámi people, with folk dancing, reindeer races and traditional food

Sami Lapland: Sámi teenager and reindeer calf, Jokkmokk — Jokkmokk Sámi winter market spans three days, opening on the first Thursday of February each year, with folk dances, joiking (similar to yodeling), reindeer races, traditional fashion shows, dog sledding, indigenous food, Sámi duodji (handicraft) artisans as well as the reindeer caravan procession Photograph: Lola Akinmade Akerstrom

Sami Lapland: Sami, Swedish Lapland — The Sámi are an indigenous people of roughly 70,000 living in the Arctic and subarctic regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula in Russia – a land area collectively known as Sápmi. Roughly 20,000 indigenous Sámi call Sweden home Photograph: Lola Akinmade Akerstrom

Sami Lapland: Reindeer — The reindeer has been a strong symbol of the Sámi for centuries. Historically, every part was used – meat and fat for cooking, horns for knives and tools, fur and skin for clothing; today reindeer remain a source of meat and fur Photograph: Lola Akinmade Akerstrom

Sami Lapland: Sámi elder Per Kuhmunen — Sámi elder Per Kuhmunen getting dressed in traditional attire and preparing to lead the reindeer caravan through the market Photograph: Lola Akinmade Akerstrom

Sami Lapland: Jokkmokk’s old church — Built in 1753 and designed by Lars Sundborn, the colours of Jokkmokk’s old church mimic traditional Sámi attire called gákti. Per Kuhmunen stops his caravan next to this historic church to prepare his convoy Photograph: Lola Akinmade Akerstrom

Sami Lapland: Elder Kuhmunen pulling his reindeer — Kuhmunen pulling his reindeer and grandchildren along on wooden sleds using his snowmobile Photograph: Lola Akinmade Akerstrom

Sami Lapland: Sámi elder Per Kuhmunen’s reindeer convoy — The reindeer convoy arriving at the market where the caravan ends. Members of Per Kuhmunen’s family – his daughter and grandsons – also take part in the march, all wearing traditional attire Photograph: Lola Akinmade

Sami Lapland: A young boy wearing a gákti - native Sámi clothing — A young boy wearing a gákti, with an embroidered belt, boots, and gloves made from reindeer skin and fur Photograph: Lola Akinmade Akerstrom

Sami Lapland: Sámi family — The oldest archaeological discoveries which tie Sámi to the region date back 10,000 years. Traditionally, Sámi society is made up of numerous family groups called (siida) Photograph: Lola Akinmade Akerstrom

Sami Lapland: Reindeer — Many Sámi families still herd reindeer and during the winter they move their flock over to Sweden. When summer rolls around, herds are often moved to Norway Photograph: Lola Akinmade Akerstrom

Sami Lapland: Winter fair, Jokkmokk, Norrbotten, Sweden — Stalls lines the streets of Jokkmokk at the winter fair Photograph: Peter Adams Photography Ltd/Alamy

Sami Lapland: Stallholder — Cheese, honey and other natural products for sale Photograph: Jaroslaw Pyrih/Alamy

Sami Lapland: Sami traditional shoe at Jokkmokk historic market — Traditional Sámi shoes at Jokkmokk market Photograph: Stefan Rosengren/Alamy

Sami Lapland: Reindeer sldge tour for tourists — Visitors to the fair can take a husky sledge tour of the surrounding area Photograph: Jaroslaw Pyrih/Alamy

Sami Lapland: The center of the town Jokkmokk — The centre of Jokkmokk. You can see a hotel and a cinema, both in the old-fashioned style.

Getting there: The main gateway to Swedish Lapland is Luleå. SAS flies from London to Luleå connecting in Stockholm while Norwegian Airlines flies directly from Gatwick to Luleå. From Luleå, it’s a three-hour bus ride to Jokkmokk. SAS also offers connecting flights to Gällivare and Arvidsjaur where buses to Jokkmokk can be boarded. This year's festival runs from 7-9 February, jokkmokksmarknad.se Photograph: Jaroslaw Pyrih/Alamy

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