Arctic Nature

We contemporary people have forgotten our deep roots in nature and thereby lost our ability to live in harmony with the forces of nature. Napapiiri Organics' ideology is born of Finnish culture's authentic relationship with nature and the ancient folk wisdom that produced.

Inhabitants of Finland have always made use of the fruits of the forest, which is reflected in the respect our culture pays nature and the forest. Finns' national identity is based on their country's natural beauty, its primeval forest and its thousands of lakes. The bog land typical of the area also has its own place in national romanticism, Finns had to find their place in nature as hunters, gatherers, farmers and fishermen.

Food is an important part of our life and well-being, and it also creates a very concrete link with the environment. Nature in the north is very rich and diverse; the conditions have produced flora and fauna which live at the extremes of their areas of distribution and which have to make use of every natural means at their disposal to survive and succeed. People have used what nature provides as a source of both vitality and well-being.

 

Napapiiri - the polar circle

The northernmost corner of Europe is a land of myth and legend. It lies inside the Arctic Circle, where the summer sun never sets, but disappears altogether in the bleak midwinter. It is in this time of darkness, however, that the cosmic wonder of the Aurora Borealis dances wondrously across the skies.

The Finnish word for this region is "napapiiri", which means a circle around both the North Pole and a person’s navel, the centre of the body. This area of Finland also has a rich natural environment all of its own; its wild northern landscapes have inspired artists and provide an escape from the pressures of the rat-race, offering real experiences of nature’s primal roots and a chance to recharge one's batteries. The roots of the Finnish way of life can be found in this deep connection with nature.

This is also the home of Europe’s only indigenous people, the Saami, who have always lived according to the demands of their environment. They know how to live off the land, but modern life brings modern challenges – they have joined our technological society but do not want to lose their traditional identity and strong bond with nature, a source of power which imbues life with deeper meaning.

A symbol of this struggle is the traditional Saami drum, which their shamans used to contact the dead and travel to the spirit world. The Saami no longer practice natural religion, but the drum shows how they are striving to stay in contact with their cultural heritage and the rugged nature they belong to