History
Since time immemorial people have lived in nearly every fjord and bay on Seiland, and traces of settlement have been found dating right back to the Stone Age. People on Seiland have traditionally made their living from fishing, livestock, small-scale farming, hunting, trapping and gathering.
Fishing was the main livelihood for most households, and sheep were the most common livestock, although many families also kept a few goats or cows. All available natural resources were used throughout the year. The population was predominantly Sámi, and Sámi was the primary language spoken on Seiland before the period of Norwegianization. In addition to the permanent residents, the island also served—and still serves—as summer grazing land for reindeer herding.
In November 1944, nearly all buildings on Seiland were burned by the German occupying forces, and much of the island’s material history was lost. Many of the settlements within what is now the national park were rebuilt after the war. The last fjords with permanent inhabitants inside today’s national park were abandoned in the 1960s, including Lille Bekkarfjord, Bårdfjorden and Jøfjorden. Today, you can still find numerous traces of former settlement in the form of stone foundations, house remains, turf hut sites, boat landings, meadow plots and old peat‑cutting areas.
Bilde: Fraflyttet hus på Gámanjárga/Komagnes, utenfor parken. Foto: Ingunn Ims Vistnes
Tidligere slåttemyr. Foto: Ingunn Ims Vistnes
Outfield Haymaking
People along the coast of West Finnmark have a long tradition of harvesting winter fodder for their livestock from the outlying fields, known as outfield haymaking. Marshes, meadows and even steep mountainsides were used for this purpose. On northern Seiland, many of the hay slopes were so valuable that they were auctioned off on multi‑year contracts. This included mountain hayfields in Bårdveggen, Humpavika, the Bumannfjordene fjords and Jøfjorden. The areas around Rognsundet and Vargsundet were also widely known for their exceptionally rich outfield grazing.
In late summer, families travelled to the hayfields in small boats, cut the grass on the slopes, and carried it down to the shore—either on their backs or with the help of horses. In the steepest hillsides, the grass was raked together and packed into net bags, which were then rolled down the slopes to the sea. The boats were loaded up, and the grass was transported back to the village, where it was hung to dry on racks.
Haymaking was hard work that everyone took part in, including the children. At the same time, it was a social event where people met friends and relatives, and where children had plenty of playmates. In Store Bekkarfjord, many families stayed on fishing boats during the haymaking period, while others used tents or slept under upturned small boats. In the evenings, you could see the glow of campfires along the shoreline.
When private property rights were introduced in Finnmark in 1775, the outfield hayfields were documented in writing for the first time. In Store Bekkarfjord alone, nearly 200 private hay plots were surveyed and registered to their owners in 1783. The plots are quite narrow—often between 20 and 80 meters wide—and extend far up the hillsides. The hay plots in Store Bekkarfjord remain private property to this day, and many families still feel a strong attachment to the steep slopes and the nutrient‑rich grass.
Næringsrike og bratte slåttemarker i Store Bekkarfjord. Foto: Ingunn Ims Vistnes