Per Markus Persson Bals (1898-1986) was born in Karesuando. His parents were reindeer herders. Per Bals married Anna Maria Blind in 1924. She died in 1925. Per Bals then married Hilma Kristine Persdotter in 1933. The couple had four children; Per Henry, Netty Maria, Märta Helena and Ingrid Marianne.
Per Bals moves to Vilasund
Per Bals was one of the reindeer herding Sami who were forcibly relocated when the Reindeer Grazing Convention between Norway and Sweden was signed in 1919. The Norwegian reindeer grazing areas were then closed to Swedish Sami. These were reindeer grazing areas that Swedish Sami had used for many generations. The closure meant that there was not enough reindeer grazing area for all the Sami who had reindeer herding based in Karesuando.
Around 30 reindeer herders therefore had to move south. One of these was Per Markus Bals. In 1926, Per Bals began a trek from Karesuando southwards, which five years later would end in Vilasund near Tärna. It was with both sadness and anticipation that he started the trek in 2026 with 200 reindeer. Sadness over leaving his parents' reindeer grazing land and sadness over the death of his spouse. But at the same time an expectation of new prospects for the future in the reindeer grazing areas in the Tärna Mountains.
The door to the future was open. Per Bals was not alone. There were several Sami who were forcibly relocated south, including Olof Andersson Omma with his wife, Kristina. There were a thousand reindeer in the group.
The five-year journey made a temporary stop at Tjengalluokta near Jokkmokk, where Per Bals and Olof Andersson Omma stayed for four years. Due to limited grazing land, also in the area around Jokkmokk, they were asked to continue their journey south.
Per Bals had already been to the Tärna area in 1928 to investigate the reindeer grazing areas. He had found the areas well suited for reindeer herding, and was therefore positive about continuing the trek south. Bals and Omma continued the trek towards Lycksele in February 1931. After a month of hiking with reindeer and household goods, they arrived at the Umbyen reindeer grazing area where they settled at Överuman on an old Southern Sami settlement at Strimasund.
Balskøta and the new Balskøta
As a reindeer herder, Per Bals needed a place to stay in Spjeltfjelldalen, and here in 1943 he set up a shed for use in the summer. He was later afflicted with heart attacks and in 1947 was forced to sell the entire reindeer herd. For 365 reindeer he was paid 18 kroner and for the 000 breeding reindeer he received 160 kroner.
The new Balskøta was set up in 1991 on the initiative of the Norwegian National Forests (Statskog), which also financed the construction of the hut. The reason for setting up the hut was that it should be an offer for mountain hikers interested in outdoor activities in an untouched mountain area.
Per Jakob Hansgård at Statens Skoger had teacher Bente Sørhøy and student Ola Pettersen at Kongsvegen Upper Secondary School in Mo i Rana rebuild the hut. In addition, Ingvald Jåma from Nord-Trøndelag was hired as an expert in building huts – which were built based on Southern Sami building customs.
An information board about Per Bals and Balskøta has been set up today at the new Balskøta along the Nordland Route.
Sources:
- The forcibly displaced. Birger Ekerlid, 2013
- Note on Balskøtæ, Birger Ekerlid/Dag Brygfjell, 2022
