Aim
Documenting and analysing the cultural heritage associated with Nordic Mountain Cattle and the relationships between local communities and their cattle.
Activities
WP4 used qualitative social science methods to explore human–animal relationships. WP4 collected oral histories through interviews with farmers and community members, surveyed archival materials and museum collections, and organised public engagement activities (such as an open photo competition and a writing contest) to gather personal stories about mountain cattle. These efforts yielded a rich collection of historical photographs and numerous written memories, providing a unique resource for understanding how people’s identities, traditions, and livelihoods have been intertwined with these cattle. By the end of the project, WP4 had produced three peer-reviewed publications shedding light on the concept of “human–cattle kinship” and how cultural values influence breed conservation. The research also highlighted mountain cattle as living cultural heritage, underlining that conserving these breeds means preserving part of the Nordic rural identity – a perspective that strengthened the project’s overall conservation messaging (WP1). The long-term archiving of images and stories was transferred to the Museum of Tornio Valley.