#northuldra

A lot of people have been sending asks about the size of Arendelle. Thank you to everyone who is curious about the geography of Frozen. So are we! One of our very first projects was @virtual-winter's analysis of the inspiration for and location of Arendelle and other places in the Frozenverse. Early this year, as per request from Archives-members Lilyviolin and Luna, we put together a simple guide to the Frozen movie-kingdoms that goes over some basic facts like what inspired them, notable residents, climate, places of interest and estimated size compared to Norway.

As we always say, happy explorin' 🤗

In this article, I will discuss the Northuldras, as well as Iduna and Kristoff, and Sámi culture. Since Frozen 2, there has been some confusion surrounding the Northuldras and their appearance. I have done my best to gather as much information as possible through my research.

Summary:

The Sámi Siberia Northuldras Iduna Kristoff Bonus: Frozen 2 songs in Northern Sámi

My previous articles:

The Sámi people

The Sámis, also spelled “Sami” or “Saami,” are an indigenous people who live scattered across northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula in Russia. The Sámpi region was formerly known as Lapland, and the Sámi were historically known in English as “Lapps” or “Laplanders,” but this term is foreign and pejorative, derived from the root lapp, which means “rag-bearer” in Swedish, and ‘Lapland’ possibly means “desert in the north.” They prefer their own endonym, for example Northern Sámi Sápmi. Their traditional languages are the Sámi languages, which are classified as a branch of the Uralic language family. The traditional activities of the Sámi were once fishing and reindeer herding, but today only a minority of the 85,000 still make their living from these activities.

The Sámi have had a complicated relationship with the Scandinavians (known as Nordics in medieval times). In Norway, the Sámi people were subjected to a persistent assimilation policy from the mid-1800s to the late 1960s. The assimilation policy helped legitimize discrimination against the Sámi, and although it has been abandoned, the Sámi continue to be victims of harassment and discrimination because of their ethnicity. Discrimination has a negative impact on the physical and mental health of the Sámi and has a detrimental effect on their daily lives and well-being. Many Sámi people explain that they hide their identity to protect themselves from harassment and discrimination. From the mid-1800s until the late 1960s, they were considered a foreign people, often characterized as uncivilized, and a policy toward the Sámi marked by racist attitudes and notions of racial hierarchy was pursued. For decades, this policy helped legitimize discrimination against the Sámi in Norway. Similar stories of abuse against the Sámi and their lives, health, and rights also occurred in Sweden and, to some extent, in Finland. Although this policy has been abandoned, negative attitudes and a lack of recognition of the Sámi language and culture still prevail. 

Culture and traditions

Religion:

The traditional Sámi religion shares elements with other religions of the polar regions, such as bear worship, sacrifices, shamanism, etc. Men and women have their own gods. This traditional polytheistic religion was the majority religion until the Middle Ages (from the 11th century onwards), when Christianity became the dominant religion by the end of the 18th century. “White” animals played a particularly important role. The noaidi (shaman) has a strong influence on the sijdda (the community that forms a village in winter), as an advisor, doctor, and religious figure. As with other circumpolar peoples, the shaman is an intermediary between the human world and the supernatural world. During ecstatic trance, the shaman communicates with the spiritual world populated by gods and creatures, whom he or she questions in order to obtain information or satisfy a request.

At the beginning of the 17th century, the situation worsened for the Sami people. Severe taxes were imposed and the Swedish royal family enforced them rigorously. In addition, church villages were built to serve not only as places for evangelizing the indigenous people, but also as centers of justice and markets. This meant that the population, who had to go there to trade, could be better controlled. But the Sami were not only disadvantaged by taxes, evangelization, and the cultivation of their lands; they were also used as forced laborers for projects such as the Nasafjäll silver mine. Reduced to slavery and poverty, the Sami performed all kinds of physical labor for the settlers.

Traditional outfits:

Gákti are traditional garments worn by the Sámi people. Gákti are worn both in ceremonial contexts and during work, particularly when herding reindeer.

Traditionally, the gákti was made from reindeer leather and tendons, but nowadays it is more common to use wool, cotton, or silk. Women's gákti usually consist of a dress, a fringed shawl fastened with 1 to 3 silver brooches, and boots/shoes made of reindeer fur or leather. Sámi boots (or nutukas) can have pointed or curved toes and often have woven bands at the ankle. Eastern Sámi boots have a rounded toe on reindeer fur boots, lined with felt and beaded details. There are different gákti for women and men, with men's gákti having a shorter “skirt-skirt-skirt” than the long dress for women. Traditional gákti are most often variations of red, blue, green, white, medium brown tanned leather or reindeer fur. In winter, a reindeer fur coat and leggings are added, and sometimes a poncho (luhkka) and a rope/lasso.

The colors, patterns, and jewelry on the gákti indicate where a person comes from, whether they are single or married, and sometimes can even be specific to their family. The collar, sleeves, and hem usually have appliqués in the form of geometric shapes. Some regions have ribbons, others have tin embroidery, and some Eastern Sami have beads on their clothing or collars. Hats vary according to gender, season, and region. They can be made of wool, leather, or fur. They can be embroidered, or in the East, they resemble a beaded fabric crown with a shawl. Some traditional shamanic headdresses had animal skins, braids, and feathers, especially in eastern Sápmi.

The gákti can be worn with a belt, which is sometimes made of woven strips, woven or beaded. Leather belts may have crimson deer antler buttons, silver buttons resembling conchos, tassels, or brass/copper details such as rings. Belts may also have beaded leather pouches, deer antler needle cases, fire accessories, copper rings, amulets, and often a carved knife or one with a deer antler handle. Some Eastern Sami also have a hooded sweater (малиц) made of reindeer skins with wool inside and knee-high boots.

Music:

In traditional music, songs (such as kvad and leudd songs) and joiks are important musical expressions of the Sámi people and the Sámi languages. The Sámi also use a variety of musical instruments, some unique to the Sámi, others traditional Scandinavian, and others modern. 

Highly spiritual songs called joiks (Northern Sami: luohti, Southern Sami: vuolle) are the most characteristic type of singing. (The same word is sometimes used to refer to lavlu or vuelie songs, although this is technically incorrect). Joiks may have few or no lyrics, no rhyme, and no defined structure. They generally deal with any subject of importance to the singer, and their content varies considerably. In northern regions, each person often has their own joik, sometimes given at birth, which is considered personal and representative of them, like a name. Purely folk joiks lost popularity during the 20th century due to the influence of pop radio and religious fundamentalism, particularly Laestadianism. Joiking first became known in Sweden and Scandinavia as a whole with the 1959 release of “I'm a Lapp” by Sven-Gösta Jonsson, in which the singer sang about heading to pagan stones to a modern, skiffle-like beat. The first commercial recordings of joiking were made by Nils-Aslak Valkeapää in 1968 in Finland. Valkeapää's recordings, however, differ from traditional joiking in that they include both instruments and ambient sounds such as dogs barking and the wind.

Some sources have commented on a supposed lack of musical instruments among the Sami, as in a 1885 work: “They cannot claim to possess a single instrument of their own, not even the most primitive.” Despite these beliefs, the Sami use a variety of musical instruments, many of which are unique to them. Among these instruments are the fadno, a reed flute made from Angelica archangelica stems, and the Sámi drum. Researchers in the late 18th century also noted two bagpipes in Lapland: the sak-pipe and the wal-pipe. Other Sámi instruments in wider Scandinavian use include the lur (a long horn trumpet) and the harpu, a zither similar to the Finnish kantele. Willow flutes are often made from the bark of the viven tree or rowan. Modern groups use a wide variety of instruments, particularly the violin, concertina, and accordion.

"A northern Sámi woman playing the Lur horn in the evening. A woodcut by Emma Edwall based on nature in the mid-1800s."

Sámi drum

Food:

Bread:

Gáhkko – Soft flatbread, baked in a pan or on a flat stone.

Gárrpa – Thin, crispy bread.

Ståmpå – Bread 

Gáhkko

Desserts:

Guetés – Eaten fresh or as jam. Chicouté jam goes well with ice cream when served warm.

Coffee with leipäjuusto

Guompa – Angelica mixed with milk and left to ferment in barrels.

Gumppus – Blood cakes and boiled black pudding with potatoes and meat.

Jåbmå – Mountain sorrel leaves cooked in a stew, usually served with sugar and milk.

Fish dishes:

Various types of dried fish

Guollemales – All types of cooked fish.

Sállteguolle – Salted fish, either lightly salted or heavily salted.

Suovasguolle – Smoked fish

Meat dishes:

Bierggomales – Cooked meat of various kinds, chops, and side dishes are common. Tongue, marrow bones, and liver are also part of Sami cuisine. The dish is more like a five-course dinner, with different parts served in order with hot broth straight from the pot.

Bierggojubttsa – A soup containing meat, potatoes, carrots, or other root vegetables.

Guorppa – A type of sausage made from minced meat wrapped in omentum.

Gåjkkebierggo – Dried meat, eaten as is or in soup with potatoes and rice.

Mallemárffe – Blood sausage

Sautéed reindeer

Slåbbå – Blood pancakes

Suovasbierggo – Smoked meat, eaten as is or fried

Smoked reindeer

Objects/crafts:

Origins:

The descendants of these Sami immigrants generally know little about their heritage because their ancestors deliberately hid their indigenous culture to avoid discrimination from the dominant Scandinavian or Nordic culture. Some of these Sami are part of a diaspora that settled in North America to escape the assimilation policies of their country of origin. Several Sami families were also brought to North America with reindeer herds by the US and Canadian governments as part of the Alaska Reindeer Service, which was designed to teach the Inuit how to raise reindeer. 

The origins of the Sami people remain a mystery, but there are a few clues.

“Yes. They carry some of the same genetic code as the Navajo, who are now believed to be descendants of a semi-nomadic Asian tribe that lived in a region of Eastern Siberia. Recent anthropological articles have discussed how there are some similarities in the language of the Nenet and other Siberian peoples in the Altai region and the Navajo. There has been a lot of debate about this, but linguistics is a very difficult subject and it is often very hard to actually pinpoint when and how and why there are similarities or differences in languages because of how much different peoples travel. However, unlike the languages, memories, and theories of people, genetics is a more certain factor in determining heritage. My mother’s ancestors were from Scandinavia on her father’s side. She was a blonde with blue eyes, and only 4 foot 9 inches tall.

When I had a DNA test done, I ran the results of the test through GED Match, which broke the actual generic results down even further so that I could see I shared certain chunks of code with people from all over the world. One of the markers said that I had Saami or Navajo DNA. They were the same. I did some research and found articles on the Archaeologica.org website that stated recent research studies have found language similarities between a tribe of semi-nomadic herders living in the Altai region of Siberia and the Navajo. There is no record of anyone on my father’s side marrying a Navajo or Saami native in Scandinavia.

He is of Scottish descent. However, there is a record of my Scandinavian great grandfather 4 times removed, marrying a 10 year old “woman”, when he was 12. Native Americans, as we all were taught in high school, came into North America by crossing the Berringia land bridge during the last ice age and it’s common knowledge they were of Asian descent. Siberians are Asian and the vast majority of Asians are small. So, what happened is that when the Siberian tribespeople crossed the bridge, they split up, at some point, and one group went more easterly into North America and another group went further North into the Arctic Circle until they reached Scandinavia. Or, they split up in Siberia and one group went the opposite direction because the Saami are also found in Northern Russia. This is what is known as the common ancestor theory in anthropology. The Saami do speak a Finnic-Ugric language, but that is not proof they aren’t related to the Navajo. 

That is only proof of the natural dynamic changes that occur when groups of people separate, and begin to intermingle with other groups or tribes of peoples in different areas. Language isn’t static. It is always changing because it is a reflection of our cultures, which are always changing. If it were static, we would still speak as we did thousands of years ago. The reason my mother, me and my brothers are all so small is because we are of Asian descent through the Saami people who migrated into Northern Scandinavia from the Altai Mountain region of Siberia. And the reason she was blonde and blur eyed is because we don’t always inherit dominant traits. The Saami look more European now because of intermarriage with the Norse and evolution changing their genetics to absorb Vitamin D. In older pictures from the 1800s, they look much more like Native Americans.”

“Sámi are often racialized. Not long ago we were categorized as “Mongoloid”. This was used as a reason to study us and measure our skulls, etc. and steal bodies from our graves. Because we were “mongoloid” we were inferior and they meant they could prove this by measuring our skulls because they (Norwegians, Swedes) supposedly had loner skulls than us. Which is where the word “kortskallet” comes from (“short-head”). In Norway (I think also in Sweden) we do not keep records of peoples races so we would not fill out any forms with our race on. But what most people I have met identify with is White. Btw indigenous is not a race. Indigenous is just another name for native. Indigenous American is more of a race than just indigenous which could mean any indigenous population from Cree nation to Australian Aboriginals to indigenous Taiwanese to indigenous Nenets to Amazigh, etc. genetically speaking we are on average approximately 25% Siberian, 75% European (this is thousands of years back, we are obviously full Sámi and completely different from other European populations as in not related to them at all). 

Feature-wise there are people who look very Eurasian, others who look very European, some who look a bit more in one or the other direction, etc. And let’s be honest, the more Eurasian looking Sámi are more likely to experience racism and racial prejudice. These features are considered to be epicanthic folds/hooded eyes, high protruding cheekbones, brown eyes, dark hair, small flatter nose, etc. Notice how this is a very specific appearance and is built on stereotypes. A lot of Sámi look like this, BUT a lot of Sámi also do NOT look like this. Hope this can give you a kind of insight. Sámi come in all shades and colors and with all features 🤗 This got long, but it’s hard to write about a big topic like this in few words. Btw forgot to mention that a lot of Sámi don’t even identify with any races as they see it as completely irrelevant to their lives. (Which I agree with).”

Sámi flag

By Prince Roland Bonaparte in 1884

Painting by Aleksander Lauréus

Advertisement for an ethnological exhibition on the Sami people in Hamburg-Saint-Paul in 1893/1894

The Sami people nowadays

Siberia

Siberia (in Russian: Сиби́рь, Sibír') is a region of Asia located in Russia, covering an area of 13.1 million square kilometers. It is rich in natural resources but extremely sparsely populated, with a total population of 38 million in 2022, or approximately 3 inhabitants per square kilometer. 

Located in the central and eastern parts of the Russian Federation, it stretches from the Urals in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east (Russian Far East) and from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the borders of Kazakhstan in the southwest, Mongolia in the south, and China in the southeast. Constituting the northern part of Asia, Siberia accounts for 77% of Russia's land area but only 27% of its population. It is characterized by a cold, continental climate with a moderately rugged landscape crisscrossed by mighty rivers. Inhabited by pastoral populations speaking Uralic, Altaic, and Paleosiberian languages, it was gradually colonized by Turkic-Mongolian civilizations, which were supplanted by the Russian Empire from the 17th century onwards with the conquest of Siberia. 

Siberia is known for its long, harsh winters, with an average temperature of -25°C (-13°F) in January. Although geographically located in Asia, Russian sovereignty and colonization since the 16th century have led to the region being perceived as culturally and ethnically European. More than 85% of its population is of European origin, mainly Russian (including the Siberian sub-ethnic group), and East Slavic cultural influences predominate throughout the region. Nevertheless, there are significant ethnic minorities of Asian descent, including various Turkic communities, many of which, such as the Yakuts, Tuvans, the Altai and the Khakas, are indigenous, as well as the Mongolian Buryats, ethnic Koreans, and smaller groups of Samoyed and Tungus peoples (several of whom are classified as indigenous peoples with small numbers by the Russian government), among many others.

The origin of the name is uncertain. In the Russian language, it was adopted as a place name in contact with the Khanate of Siberia (Сибирское ханство) since the 15th century. The Russian name Yugra was applied to the northern lands east of the Urals, which had been known since the 11th century or earlier, while the name Siberia is first mentioned in Russian chronicles at the beginning of the 15th century in connection with the death of Khan Tokhtamysh in “the Siberian land.”

Some sources say that “Siberia” comes from the Siberian Tatar word for “sleeping land” (Sib-ir), but this does not correspond to the current Siberian Tatar language. Mongolist György Kara posits that the place name Siberia is derived from the Mongolian word sibir, related to the modern Buryat sheber “dense forest.” Another hypothesis claims that the region was named after the Sibe people. Another account sees the name as the ancient tribal ethnonym of the Sihirtia or Sirtya (also Sypyr [sjɵpᵻr]), a hypothetical Paleo-Asian ethnic group assimilated by the Nenets. 

The Sibe people:

The Sibe are an ethnic group in East Asia who speak the Tungusic language and live mainly in Xinjiang, Jilin, and Shenyang in Liaoning. The Sibe are one of 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by China and had a population of 190,481 according to the 2010 Chinese census, representing just over 0.014% of China's total population. The Sibe are known by several variations of their name. The Sibe people's self-designation is pronounced Śivə, the official Chinese term is Xibo, in Russian literature the terms Сибинцы (sibintsy) and Шибинцы (shibintsy) are used, while in English works the name Sibe has been established, which corresponds to the written form.

According to Russian scholar Elena P. Lebedeva, the Sibe people were originally a southern branch of the ancient Shiwei people. They lived in small, partly nomadic settlements resembling towns in the Songyuan and Qiqihar regions of what is now Jilin. When the kingdom of Buyeo was conquered by the Xianbei in 286 AD, the southern Shiwei began to practice agriculture. Some historians have hypothesized that the Xianbei were the direct ancestors of the Sibe, a theory described by some as politically motivated. Pamela Kyle Crossley writes that the Xianbei may have undergone a linguistic shift from an earlier Turkic or Proto-Mongolian language to a Tungusic language. However, the name “Sibe” was not used in historical documents during the Xianbei period.

“Military settlers of Sibo” – image drawn by Henry Lansdell during his visit in 1882 to what is now the autonomous county of Qapqal Xibe"

Northuldras

“While the indigenous people in the animated films Frozen (2013) and Frozen 2 (2019) are called Northuldra, elements of Sami culture are clearly recognizable in the film inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's Danish fairy tale, such as joik, the traditional Sami song. This inspiration is clearly acknowledged in the second film, for which a verddet “group” composed of six Sámi culture specialists—three Norwegians, two Finns, and one Swede was formed to advise the Disney teams."

The Northuldras live in the enchanted forest to the west and north of Arendelle. There has been some confusion surrounding them and their appearance; at first glance, some thought they were Native Americans. Others thought it was for “inclusivity” because it turns out that people complained that Kristoff was “too white” for a Sami, so they believed that the directors created the Northuldras on purpose. But you will notice that in reality, the directors did not get the Northuldras' appearance wrong; they look like the Sami of old. 

“Yelena, the leader of Northuldra, feels deeply responsible for her people and does not consider only the fate of her kingdom. She has long silver hair that makes her instantly recognizable. It is worn like a crown, giving her a regal bearing befitting her status as an elder.” — Frozen 2, art of 

“Ryder and Honeymaren are brother and sister, so we need to visually convey this closeness while also making them different. Ryder is a lively, playful boy with a generous smile and a warm laugh. He feels a special connection with reindeer, like Kristoff, which allows them to quickly become friends. Honeymaren is more stoic, she is a strong woman. They are both very athletic and comfortable in their environment.” — Frozen 2, art of    

“The inhabitants of Northuldra are very connected to nature. They live and work outdoors, and have adapted to thrive in all conditions.” “The inhabitants of Northuldra are peaceful. Their athletic and swift movements set them apart from other characters.” — Frozen 2, art of

Ryder and Honeymaren, concept art by Jin Kim

Northuldras in Frozen 2 (2019)

Iduna

Iduna is the mother of Elsa and Anna. In Frozen 2, we learn that she is a member of the Northuldra people.

A novel entitled Dangerous Secrets, written by Mari Mancusi, was released on November 3, 2020. This young adult novel tells the story of Agnarr and Iduna, the parents of Elsa and Anna.

Summary of the story

“Sixteen-year-old Iduna harbors a dark secret.On the surface, she is an Arendellian village girl, an aspiring inventor, and the best friend of Prince Agnarr, but she is also secretly Northuldra. Ever since the day the forest fell, Arendellians have despised and distrusted Northuldra with a vengeance. No matter that the Northuldra―along with some of Arendelle’s own―have been trapped in the Enchanted Forest behind an impenetrable wall of mist since the day of the battle. Iduna doesn’t know why the mist refuses to part, or why it descended to begin with. The only clear thing is that she must keep her identity from everyone, even Agnarr. Her life depends on it. Fortunately for her, Agnarr doesn’t know that Iduna is the Northuldra girl he saw seemingly flying on a gust of wind all those years ago, the day of the celebration turned disaster. The day Agnarr lost his father, the king. The day Agnarr himself almost died. What Agnarr does know is that Iduna is a true ally in the face of his royal responsibilities and the expectations of an overbearing council and a well-meaning regent who will rule in Agnarr’s place until he turns twenty-one and assumes the Arendellian throne. As Iduna and Agnarr grow ever closer, however, friendship is no longer enough.

If only falling for each other didn’t mean risking their futures: Iduna’s as a hidden-in-plain-sight citizen of Arendelle, and Agnarr’s as imminent king. But for a chance at true love, the risk might be worth taking”

Iduna is a Sámi from the Northuldra people, born in the enchanted forest. Her parents died when she was five years old, and following their death, Yéléna sort of adopted her. Yéléna is not related to her by blood, but they are from the same people. The Northuldras are a bit like a united family, even if they are not all related by blood. I interpret Yélena as a friend of the family, but according to the novel, Iduna did not know her very well before she took her in. Iduna did not really consider her to be her adoptive mother, but more like a nanny or an aunt.

This war between the Northuldras and the Arendellians took place when Iduna was 12 years old, and it was on that day that she saved Prince Agnarr of Arendelle, who was 14 years old, with the help of her friend Gale (the spirit of the wind). Unfortunately for her, she was unable to rejoin her people in time and remained trapped on the other side of the mist with the Arendellians, hiding in the back of a wagon. She tried to escape again, but she was frightened when she heard the threatening words of one of the Arendelle guards towards the Northuldras, saying that if he found a Northuldra among them, he would not hesitate to kill him. When they arrived in Arendelle, the guards saw him sleeping and woke him up abruptly, having never seen him before and knowing that all the children were accounted for. They were therefore very suspicious of him, but Lord Peterssen intervened and helped him in a way... He was the only one who had guessed Iduna's origins. Lord Peterssen told him not to reveal anything about her origins and to keep it a secret. Iduna was then placed in the orphanage.

Meanwhile, she and the prince became friends without him realizing her origins. 4 years later, Iduna had grown accustomed to life in Arendelle, but nothing could replace her life in the enchanted forest. 1 year earlier, she had enrolled in a mill-building course, thinking it would bring her closer to her friend Gale and teach her more about the science of wind, and it would allow her to save money for when she was old enough to leave the orphanage. But the issue with the Northuldras was still unresolved in Arendelle. At one point in the story, there was an invasion, and non-Arendellian individuals caused chaos in Arendelle. All the inhabitants of Arendelle were convinced that it was the Northuldras who had entered the kingdom to seek revenge or something like that.

Some fans of the FROZEN universe who know Iduna's story still don't understand why she lied and didn't tell Agnarr and his daughters anything. When she was 16, she planned to tell Agnarr about it. She was never ashamed of her origins, but following the invasion, Lord Peterssen came to warn her one evening that a lie detector test would be administered. Iduna was ready to go to Agnarr and reveal her origins, but Peterssen told her not to say anything for the time being. If she revealed her Northuldra identity, Agnarr's reputation would be ruined for associating with a Northuldra, and Peterssen would no longer be able to cover for her. Becoming a mother made the situation even more complicated because her daughters, the two heiresses to the throne, shared the blood of the enemy people. 

Despite the fact that the conflicts had calmed down, the Arendellians and the Northuldras were still enemies. Even though Agnarr was not the type to reveal secrets, if Iduna had confessed to him that she was from the Northuldra people, someone (a member of the castle) might have overheard the conversation unintentionally. If anyone in Arendelle had learned anything about this, Iduna might have been killed or driven out of the people, Elsa and Anna would have been taken away along without their royal inheritance, and would have been placed in a foster home or suffered the same fate as their mother. Agnarr's reputation would have been ruined, and he would have been left alone without his wife and children, not to mention that Iduna was the only person he had left after his father's death. It's horrible.

Iduna's outfits:

In Frozen 1, Iduna was a background character. She was just Elsa and Anna's mother. But in Frozen 2, she finally got her own story (past).

For her outfit, they were initially inspired by Russian clothing, but the story takes place in Norway, so they ultimately opted for a Norwegian outfit.

Concept art of Iduna, Frozen 1 art of

“Elsa and Anna’s mother, Queen Iduna, had to endure emotional wounds, but she is a mother who puts her family first. She didn’t talk much in the first film, but she sought to help her daughters, as well as the people of her homeland, heal their broken land. Elsa and Anna would not have succeeded in their journey without what their mother did for them.” — Frozen 2, art of volume 2

The art of says that her outfit is a Northuldra outfit, but on Pinterest I stumbled across these outfits that look like Iduna's, but according to people, they are ancient Viking outfits. One day, under a Pinterest post, I came across a similar dress design, and the description said it was a Sami outfit. Or maybe Iduna's outfit is a Sami outfit reimagined in the Arendellian style.  

“As a child, Iduna was one with nature, close to the spirit of the wind, happy and carefree. She is playful and affable like Anna, she loves the magic of the world like Elsa, and she has the same thoughtfulness as her daughters. Young Iduna represents what Elsa and Anna could have become if they had grown up playing together. She is her pure essence, free from convention.” — Frozen 2, art of volume 2 

(Elsa is normally a little calmer and more reserved, like her father, but oh well. I don't like it when characters change personalities; in fact, that could be a topic for another article).

Kristoff

"There has been some confusion surrounding them and their appearance; at first glance, some thought they were Native Americans. Others thought it was for “inclusivity” because it turns out that people complained that Kristoff was “too white” for a Sami, so they believed that the directors created the Northuldras on purpose. But you will notice that in reality, the directors did not get the Northuldras' appearance wrong; they look like the Sami of old."

Although he is also a Sámi, he is not part of the Northuldra tribe, but it is possible that the mountain dwellers belong to another Sámi tribe (I call them “the mountain Sámi”). You see, the Northuldras resemble the Sámi of the past, while today's Sámi are diverse, some with Eurasian features and others resembling Europeans due to intermarriage with Europeans. Kristoff and the mountain dwellers in the franchise resemble nowaday's Sámi. 

Kristoff and Ryder, concept art by Jin Kim

Bonus: Songs from Frozen 2 in Northern Sami + Songs by a Sámi artist

Frozen 2 songs

Máddji

Spotify:

Full album:

Full album Youtube Music:

Other:

Youtube Music:

Full album:

she’s been vigorously studying the Spirits her whole life. Becoming an expert and recording everything thing for the moment…one day…when the 5th would show herself…

Another little edit of mine of Iduna, this time how she looked dressed as an Arendellian girl after escaping the Enchanted forest. Isn't she pretty!

Good question! Originally, I was going to — this can be seen in Elsa’s design especially

I ended up changing my mind because kirins are dragon-horses from East-Asian mythology. Alternatively, my understanding is the Northuldra are inspired by the Sámi people. Due to the cultural differences, I decided against portraying the latter as the former.

This ask resulted in me researching Sámi culture a bit deeper, to which I found that horses were often associated with Norse or Scandinavian settlers on horseback. Instead of horses, many Sámi communities relied on reindeer.

(I’ve waay oversimplified here. there are many diverse Sámi communities with different cultures. I do google searches during my off hours — please do your own research on the topic instead of taking my word)

Having found that, I decided the Northuldra deserved a redesign of their own — instead of being ponies with reindeer coat patterns, I want to give them characteristics of reindeer.

“Ok but what does that have to do with the ask?”

LONG winded explanation to say Northuldra will now be reindeers with chest fluff and horns, which resemble the Kirin. Weird how things come full circle!