“Spirit and Nature” Camaldoli, Toscana – May 17, 2015.
It’s hard to find the right words to describe the wave of emotions that we felt during this unforgettable day … for real! Friendship, brotherhood, hospitality, respect, and above all Love are the ones that come spontaneous, write the others yourselves commenting these images, that speak for themselves … THANKS and we write it big because we want to express a big gratitude to all of you who have participated from afar to this that has been for us the most beautiful event we’ve ever organized. THANKS to our guests Bertil Pittsa – elder of the Sami community , Per-Eric Kuoljok – singer of yoik and Bernt Wennström – Vice President of the UNESCO site Laponia, for the energy and enthusiasm that they have given us and the track that their passing has left in our hearts as well as in our beloved Tuscany. TACK! GIITU!

“NATURE IS MY KITCHEN” – presentation events with the author Greta Huuva

We are currently arranging these events for the Spring-Summer 2015 (further information varda@varda-hb.com)

– 31 January 2015 at the Gällivare Museum on occasion of the celebration of the Polar winter night

An article on the event by Lars-Göran Norlin published on the Swedish newspaper NSD

http://www.nsd.se/nyheter/gallivare/matkultur-och-bocker-pa-polarvinternatten-9039288.aspx

– 5th February 2015 at the Jokkmokk Tourist office on occasion of the Jokkmokk Sámi market

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12 January 2015 – Article on NATURE IS MY KITCHEN” published on the Swedish newspaper NSD

November 2014 OUT NOW!

 “NATURE IS MY KITCHEN – Healthy Sámi food culture” book and film

 2014 was for us Italians living in the North of Sweden a year of return to the roots, those of food deeply rooted in nature, as taught by the culture of the Sámi. “NATURE IS MY KITCHEN”, which consists of a book and a film, was born almost spontaneously from the encounter with Greta Huuva, one of the most authoritative representatives of the Sami food culture, who was exceptionally our guide to the discovery of ancient knowledge and tastes.

 “All food in the Sámi culture is nutritious and acts as a natural medicine for the body and soul.

Greta Huuva passionately embodies this philosophy through her work as a Sámi chef, as a modern day medicine woman, and a Sámi food ambassador.
The foundations of this book, and the accompanying film, are based on Greta’s exceptional knowledge of food and cooking, and the use of plants and herbs within the world of the Sámi that has almost been forgotten.
Greta Huuva’s commitment goes well beyond the preservation of knowledge, and is characterised by a desire to pass on her wisdom to future generations.”

BOOK: English/Swedish languages, cm 26×24, paperback cover, 104 pages

FILM: 30 minutes – Language: Swedish with English subtitles, narrated by Greta Huuva

Watch the trailer here:

“LAPONIA – Nature and Natives” the only Swedish (and at the same time the only Italian one) film selectioned at the 30 French International Film Festival of Ménigoute – an amazing venue with nice people, for an inspiring experience… Au revoir! 

 Ménigoute 28 October – 2 November 2014
http://www.menigoute-festival.org/
http://www.menigoute-festival.org/lefestival/programme-films-2014 

28° International Film Festival of Sondrio – on stage talking of “LAPONIA – Nature and Natives” 

Sondrio 5-12 October 2014

 

Our film “LAPONIA-Nature and Natives” has been selectioned at the Sondrio Festival 2014! The international documentary Film Festival on Parks takes place in Northern Italy since 1987
It was really exciting for us small independent producers with our first film, being one of only 12 selectioned films and compete with international giants such as the BBC, National Geographic, and filmmakers from around the world. We consider it a great start! 

http://www.sondriofestival.it/en/festival

http://www.sondriofestival.it/en/documentari/laponia-nature-and-natives

https://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=e27IvEJ42XM

29th March 2014 – A very good and positive review of “LAPONIA- Nature and Natives” by the culture redactor Jan Bergsten, published on the Swedish magazine NSD 

http://www.nsd.se/kultur/laponia-som-ett-konstverk-8381334.aspx

8 February 2014 at Ájtte – the Swedish Mountain and Sámi Museum in Jokkmokk – “LAPONIA-Nature and Natives” has been presented during the Jokkmokk Market 2014, a 400 year old Sami tradition that attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year and a great opportunity to experience Sami culture.

29 September 2013 Gällivare – Premiere of “LAPONIA – Nature and Natives ” book/map and film – at the Gällivare Museum

The TRAILER of “LAPONIA Nature and Natives” is now online! An incredible journey with the Sami indigenous people in the greatest area of nature protected in Europe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNyYYAkBQ9o&feature=youtu.be

“LAPONIA -Nature and Natives” – The Sámi indigenous people living with nature in the UNESCO site 

Book, map and film

Book with a preface of James Anaya, UN Special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, and an introduction of Bertil Pittsa, elder of the Sami community and one of the maker of the Laponia Process.

A project in collaboration with Ájtte – Swedish Mountain and Sámi Museum

A vision of Laponia, an emotional experience of the italian photographer and filmmaker Andrea Barghi, where the Sámi music merges with the sounds of nature, the call of the golden eagle echoes in the vast spaces.

Three years of work in LAPONIA, the greatest and oldest symbol of nature protected in Europe, with the Sámi, the last indigenous people of Western Europe… a life journey to tell of the symbiotical relation between Man and Nature as an inspiring model of sustainable life and to discover the mistery of their atavistic connection.

Some of the participants in the historical “Laponia Process” describe the long and complex journey, which, for the first time in the world, has led to a group with a majority of indigenous people managing the land that has always belonged to them.

BOOK:

Laponia represents a rare example of a positive symbiosis between Man and Nature, and is an inspiring model of sustainable life.

Situated in the North of Sweden, above the arctic circle, it is simultaneously the greatest and oldest symbol of nature protected in Europe and is one of the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world that represent the landscapes of indigenous peoples.

The Sámi are the last indigenous people of Western Europe, this is the story of their deep relationship with nature in Laponia – a story told by the Sámi people and interpreted by the Italian photographer and filmmaker  Andrea Barghi, who for over thirty years has been a keen traveller in these boundless lands.

Some of the participants in the “Laponia Process” describe the long and complex journey, which, for the first time in the world, has led to a group with a majority of indigenous people managing the land that has always belonged to them.

A long and complex journey in a million hectares of wilderness, with extreme weather conditions, and  challenging relations with the Sámi, to discover the mistery of the atavistic connection between Man and Nature.

With a postface by Lester R. Brown – Founder and President of The Earth Policy Institute

The book was included in the UN official publications of the International Year of Forests 2011

In the International Year of Forests 2011 this book is a celebration of the old-growth forests of the North of Sweden, Norrbotten county

With the aim to raise a feeling of belonging, an awareness of their protection and a sustainable forestry

(further info https://vardahb.com/ideas/2011-2/)

“The Wild Forests of Norrbotten” is an edition out of commerce