Arctic: Home for people and animals (1cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Objective

Lectures based on the case studies materials from Finnish Lapland give an opportunity to get different perspectives on animal behaviour in wildness, within their own herd/group, and with the other species or/and human.

The students will gain a deeper understanding about the complexity of human-animal relations in the Arctic

Execution methods

Lectures (6 h) are based on unique video material on the animal behaviour and interactions. Each of the six lectures is connected to the related case study. Presentation of the case studies will follow by the group discussion.

Accomplishment methods

Active participation in the lectures. A short essay on one of the case studies.

Content

The course is focused on the relation between people in the northern communities of Lapland and semi-domesticated/domesticated animals. Human approaches towards animals will be compared with animals’ life in human proximity as well as in wilderness.

The lecturer, a social anthropologist, who lives and works in a small remote village, has been active in the reindeer herding since 1997. Case studies conducted by her will present the observations made in the last five years on 5–20 male reindeer, 5 female and their calves, individual reindeer, one dog, three cats and three lambs and sheep (one summer). Most of the animals move freely on their pasture and natural environment, can interact with each other and the female reindeer are in enclosure.

Following themes will be discussed:
- Animal learning processes
- Seasonal behaviour
- Competition within animal groups
- Human-animal cooperation
- Predator-prey relationship/slaughtering
- Empathy.

Case studies cover following themes:
- Reindeer: Reindeer behaviour according to sex, age and season
- Dog: The forest, hunting and herding dog behaviour in her natural environment, woods and wilderness home
- Cat: behaviour according to season
- Sheep: natural behaviour in wilderness
- Animal interaction: interaction between each other and seasonal changes in interaction
- Human–animal interaction and cooperation.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Fail: Performance is highly deficient or erroneous. The work may be based on serious misunderstandings.

Sufficient and satisfactory (1-2): Performance is lacking in scope, superficial, or corresponds poorly to the assignment. The author merely lists things out of context or addresses them one-sidedly. The work may contain errors or obscurities.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good and very good (3-4): Performance corresponds to the assignment, manifesting comprehension and a skill to analyse and justify. The author has addressed the issue comprehensively. The work may contain some deficiencies.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5): Performance delineates an extensive whole and the author can apply knowledge in a multifaceted way or place it in various contexts. The work manifests independency and insight, and it is a flawless entity that involves justified thinking or critical contemplation. The work is well written and implemented.