Behind us, in the knee-deep snow that covers the river ice, is a massive 'drawing' of a reindeer, with words in English 'Enough!' and Sámi; 'De nohká!'

Enough, is... enough.

It's an exhortion to find a resolution in the continuing conflict between the state logging industry at the Sámi traditional culture of reindeer herding. In front of us, a red Greenpeace kota (tent) has been set up.

Over the last few days, a team of young Sámi; people and Greenpeace activists have worked hard, creating the 50m x 50m picture, using snowshovels and charcoal. As a result, we've got a few activists - Petteri, Jetske, Timo and Sigurd - who look like they've been working down a coal mine. From above, on the hills, the giant reindeer reminds me of the kind of ancient artwork that you might carved into a chalk hill in Wiltshire, in England, except in negative (black lines on white ground). The design has a cave-art feel to it - signifying something ancient, something unquantifiable.

Present is 20-year old Inka Saara - from the Nellim Siida reindeer herding group, and she's not afraid to tell us about how young Sá people feel; "We too are worried about logging. We want to do our share here. Reindeer herding is a big part of Sámi culture and we have a strong identity. There are many young reindeer herdsmen and women here. We believe in this way of life and we want to fight for it."

21-year old Keijo Pirttijärvi from Muotkatunturi co-operative has told us that "being a reindeer herdsman is not only a profession, it is a way of life. If the forest is logged, the number of reindeer must be reduced and that way our jobs will vanish. It worries us young people here".

Our artwork is transient - by the time the summer thaw arrives - our Reindeer art will be long gone. Let's make sure that the ancient boreal forests of upper Lapland and the Sáami tradition of reindeer herding don't disappear the same way.

- Dave

Reindeer Art

Click each image to view.