About Vuonnamárkanat

The modern Vuonnamárkanat started in 2005 as a collaboration between the Varanger Sami Museum and the Isak Isak Saba Center, the language center in Nesseby municipality. The starting point was a desire to obtain local foods that are not collected or produced by the people themselves, such as mushrooms, berries, fish and meat. This is how the idea of ​​a local Sami market for nature-based and handmade products was born.

Vuonnamárkanat is based on the traditional “Varanger Market” that can be read descriptions of in older literature. It was established in inner Varanger in 1688 by order of the king. Bailiff Niels Knag describes it as follows: “… a market is held there on January 22nd in the winter, by Norwegians, Finns (Sami) from Varanger, Finns (Sami) from Tana and from Laksefjord and by citizens from Vadsø, Kiberg and Vardø, with Swedish merchants from Torneå, with Swedish border Finns and with Russians from Kola.” He also writes that “Russefinner” from Neiden and Pasvik (Skolt sami) came to the market. It is uncertain exactly where this market took place, but oral tradition in Varanger suggests that it was on Márkanoaivi (“market hill”) at Njiđgogorze / Vesterelvfossen. The market was then re-established in 1831, this time in Stuorravuonna / Karlebotn. The time was then moved to the end of November-December. At the end of the 19th century, the market experienced a decline in visitors and turnover and was thus closed down by the state in 1899.