MSc Kia Krarup Hansen is originally from Denmark, but has been living and working with reindeer herders in Finnmark and Troms, Norway. Her interest in reindeer husbadnry is interdisciplinary, and includes traditional knowledge and adaptation to change in Arctic societies. Over the past few years, Kia Krarup Hansen has been working on different projects with the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry. On 31st of October she will defend her PhD thesis “In the Smoke of the Lávvu – Two Ways of Knowing Reindeer Meat Smoking” at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education.
About the Dissertation
Hansen’s doctoral work examines the traditional Sámi practice of smoking reindeer meat inside the lávvu and compares this Indigenous knowledge with methods and assumptions found in scientific food-research literature.
Although global research on smoked foods often highlights potential cancer risks from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the specific Sámi method has scarcely been documented or analysed. To address this gap, Hansen worked in collaboration with Sámi reindeer herders and food scientists to establish a “lávvu-laboratory” and analyse smoked meat under different conditions.
Key findings include:
- Most samples of traditionally smoked meat contained PAH levels below EU safety thresholds
- Smoking with birch twigs and smoking reindeer fat generated very high PAH values
- Using driftwood or birch logs and avoiding fat smoking can align tradition with modern food-safety standards
The thesis demonstrates the value of combining Indigenous knowledge with scientific research to preserve cultural food practices while improving health guidance.
The defence is open to the public. All interested students, staff and external guests are welcome to attend or follow the live stream.
- Date: 31 October 2025, 10:15
- Place: UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø (Room SVHUM B-1005)
- Streaming: Both trial lecture and defence will be streamed
More information here
Source: UiT Norges arktiske universitet
