Siida

A Siida (Sami language Cearru, Siida, Sita, Kite), more correctly described as a reindeer pastoralistic district, is at the same time both a Sami reindeer foraging area, and a group of reindeer herding, as well as an organisation working for the economic benefit of its members. Termed Sameby (Sami Village) in Swedish law and Reinbeitesdistrikt (Reindeer Pasture District) in Norwegian law. The pastoralistic organisaton differs slightly between countries, except in Russia, where kolkhoz suceeded siida.

In Sweden, to a membership in siida follows "pastoralistic rights" based on statute of limitations, limited to individuals of Sami descent. These rights also includes hunting and fishing for profit. There are 33 mountain siidas, 10 forest siidas and 8 concession siidas, categorized after territory, summer and winter pasture usage, etc. Membership is required to practice pastoralistic rights. This is required for ownership of reindeers too, except in concession siidas, where even non-members can own "serve reindeers", served by siida members recieving concession to pasture lands in repay. This results from older conventions when reindeers where used by settled local population in daily life. The economic activity in present day siidas are limited to profit from pastoralistic rights.

Siidas in Sweden splits Sami people in two groups. Membership is essentially limited to those of nomadic ancestry before 1886, leaving the major part of Sami peoples outside the siida.

In Norway, pastoralistic activity requires membership in a unit ("driftsenhet"), corresponding to a reindeer herd. The rights to conduct pastoralism are based on statute of limitations and limited to individuals of Sami descent.

In Finland and Russia, pastoralistic activity is not limited to Sami ethnos.

The present day siida is often a rectangular shaped region over a large area, and earlier in time, many siidas made up one "riikka" (county).