Mittanauhalla

Mittanauhalla is a traditional Sami drum, also known as a shamanic drum or spirit drum. These drums were historically used by Sami shamans, or noaidi, in their spiritual practices and healing rituals. The drumhead is typically made from reindeer rawhide, stretched over a wooden frame. The frame is often carved from wood, sometimes with animalistic or mythological motifs.

Decorating the drumhead is a crucial aspect of Mittanauhalla. The surface is painted with symbols representing the Sami cosmos, including deities, spirits, animals, and significant natural elements. A pointer, often made from bone or metal, is placed on the drumhead. The shaman would then strike the drum, and the movement of the pointer across the painted symbols was interpreted as a form of divination or a way to communicate with the spirit world. Each symbol and its position held specific meanings, allowing the noaidi to answer questions, diagnose illnesses, or predict the future. The exact design and interpretation of symbols varied significantly between different Sami regions and individual noaidi. While their use declined with the Christianization of the Sami people, some Mittanauhalla are preserved in museums, and there is a renewed interest in understanding and occasionally recreating their use in contemporary Sami culture.