Tommy Sandal, A hunter in the wilds of Svalbad, Modern Huntsman, Volume 9

TOMMY SANDAL- A hunter in the wilds of Svalbard –

The following story was originally translated from Norwegian to English, taken from the book, “A Hunter in the Wilds of Svalbard.” For over two years, journalist Julie C. Knarvik and photographer Sverre Chr. Jarild chronicled the life and story of Svalbard’s last traditional hunter, Tommy Sandal.

Interview

Julie Knarvik

Photos

Sverre Chr. Jarild

Read Time

5 minutes

Posted

It’s well camouflaged in this white landscape. Wandering on the ice where the white snow meets the gray sky, it emerges out of the mist. Tommy Sandal spots it a few hundred meters from land. A large male polar bear is ambling toward the cabin and the meat rack, from which seal meat and blubber are hanging. It is a powerful sight. Rusk, his large Greenland dog and polar bear guard gets a whiff of the animal. He barks furiously and pulls on his chains, rattling them loudly. 

Tommy Sandal, A hunter in the wilds of Svalbad, Modern Huntsman, Volume 9
Tommy holds back his Greenland dog, Rusk, as a polar bear approaches. In this land, the polar bear is king and precautions have to be taken to avoid conflict with the bears.
Tommy Sandal, A hunter in the wilds of Svalbad, Modern Huntsman, Volume 9
Tommy Sandal, A hunter in the wilds of Svalbad, Modern Huntsman, Volume 9
Seal meat forms an important part of Tommy’s ability to survive throughout the year in Svalbard.
Tommy Sandal, A hunter in the wilds of Svalbad, Modern Huntsman, Volume 9
A bearded seal is harvested from the coastal waters of Svalbard.
Tommy Sandal, A hunter in the wilds of Svalbad, Modern Huntsman, Volume 9
A blood sausage recipe handed down from Tommy’s grandmother. In this harsh unforgiving terrain, it’s important to make use of all available resources.
Tommy Sandal, A hunter in the wilds of Svalbad, Modern Huntsman, Volume 9
Sawdust prevents excess blood staining the Arctic fox pelts during the preparation. Here, Tommy begins the process of cleaning and fleshing the skin.
Tommy Sandal, A hunter in the wilds of Svalbad, Modern Huntsman, Volume 9
Tommy carries out one of the twenty-five reindeer he has on quota for the year. All but five of these will feed people in the restaurants of Longyearbyen; the rest he will eat during the long winter months.
Tommy Sandal, A hunter in the wilds of Svalbad, Modern Huntsman, Volume 9
The blood from a freshly shot reindeer is collected immediately in the field, then salt is added while whisking in a bowl in order to prevent it from coagulating. Here, Tommy strains the blood in preparation to make blood sausage.
Tommy Sandal, A hunter in the wilds of Svalbad, Modern Huntsman, Volume 9
An Arctic fox is retrieved from one of Tommy’s dead fall traps.
Tommy Sandal, A hunter in the wilds of Svalbad, Modern Huntsman, Volume 9
Tommy Sandal, A hunter in the wilds of Svalbad, Modern Huntsman, Volume 9
Tommy’s dogs provide him with safety, companionship and transport through the season.
Tommy Sandal, A hunter in the wilds of Svalbad, Modern Huntsman, Volume 9
Tommy Sandal, A hunter in the wilds of Svalbad, Modern Huntsman, Volume 9
Reindeer preparation. These carcasses will be picked up by the local coastguard, who will transport them to Longyearbyen, fulfilling orders from various restaurants.
Tommy Sandal, A hunter in the wilds of Svalbad, Modern Huntsman, Volume 9

Related Stories

Waypoints Of A Hungry Life

Waypoints Of A Hungry Life

Long Form Story, Volume Ten
Someone makes a slingshot. Someone produces a fishing pole. Forays to the river begin to include a stop at the general store for bait and tackle. Rabbits and fish are added to the bounty that our little hands gather from the land.
The Weight of Wolves

The Weight of Wolves

Long Form Story, Volume Ten
The only place a wolf can be a devil or a saint is in the eye of the beholder.
Hunting with Wolves

Hunting with Wolves

Long Form Story, Volume Ten
“Nature is not more complicated than you think, it is more complicated than you can think.” — Frank Edwin Egler, Plant Ecologist, Hunting with Wolves
Load More

Latest Stories

Texas Christmas with Stewards of the Wild

Texas Christmas with Stewards of the Wild

Long Form Story, Volume Ten
This isn’t my first dove hunt, but it’s my first dove hunt in Texas, and many proud Texans would tell me that I have misspoken and it is, in fact, my first dove hunt. By the end of my trip, I will humbly stand corrected.
Hunters of Color

Hunters of Color

Long Form Story, Volume Ten
The act of hunting itself stretches far beyond the bounds of our labeled identities. And yet, hunters who fall outside of the mainstream American status quo of “who a hunter is” experience barriers not of their own making.
Load More

Pin It on Pinterest