Elders from Norway

Jungle Svonni is a Sámi wisdom keeper from Sápmi (Norway), originating from a traditional reindeer-herding lineage. He grew up in one of the most isolated, untouched, and traditional reindeer herding districts of northern Sápmi, about 200 km north of the Arctic Circle—an area without road connections or electricity, where his family continues to migrate with their reindeer despite ongoing land claims by Norway and Sweden.

 

When the invasion and colonization of Sápmi began around 400–500 years ago, the core of Sámi culture—its spiritual connection to the land and its shamanic traditions—was outlawed. This led Jungle Svonni to spend seven years in the Amazon, where he sought to recover elements of his ancestral spirituality that had been in decline for centuries. His journey resulted in a landmark legal trial in Sweden regarding the right to learn shamanism from nature, marking the first time in history a Sámi shaman successfully challenged a colonizing government in court.

 

Today, he is recognized for his work with Sámi ancestral spirituality, including joik (sacred chant), frame drumming, nature ceremonies, and teachings deeply rooted in the Arctic relationship between humans, animals, land, and seasons. Known as a cultural bridge-builder, his time in the Amazon also deepened his understanding of plant wisdom, ceremonial life, and Earth-based cosmologies, shaping his role as an intercultural messenger who connects Arctic and Amazonian traditions through shared principles of respect for Mother Earth, balance, and reciprocity.

 

Jungle Svonni now travels internationally, offering ceremonies, teachings, and gatherings that share Sámi cosmology, Indigenous ethics, and the importance of restoring harmony between humanity and nature. He remains an active voice supporting the survival and dignity of Indigenous cultures worldwide.