Levi Digit – Wireless Levi offers free internet
services in many companies in Levi m.levi.fi
Levi leads the way in mobile services for the tourist industry. m.levi.fi has a wide variety of information of services and news in Levi. The service includes the Levi events calendar, maps of the region, webcams, and the entire service directory for Levi. The number of smart phones (with internet connection) is constantly on the increase, and many tourists also bring a laptop with them. When using the wireless network provided by the Levi enterprises, tourists do not have to pay for international data transfer, or so-called roaming costs. Phones can be used to pay for activities on the weekly programme, booking a table at a restaurant, following the SkiBus in real time, viewing news and special offers, and much more. Visitors to Levi can use the service to acquire information on the ski slopes and tracks, accommodation alternatives, traffic and weather

Living village in Levi as part of the Unesco Cultural Village Program 
A Sámi cultural village has been built in Levi, with background support provided by Unesco, as part of the Cultural Village Program. The Sámi Cultural Village is located at the foot of the Levi slopes next to Levi Summit and Hotel Levi Panorama. The indoor areas are in the exhibition hall of Levi Summit. The organisation responsible for implementing the village is Samiland Oy.
The village is entirely new. Construction and exhibition work were completed at the end of the year.
The idea for establishing the Sámi Cultural Village was proposed by Australian Lindy Joubert when visiting Levi last winter. Lindy Joubert works for Unesco, in the field of art and research.
The organisation responsible for implementing the Sámi Cultural Village is Samiland Oy. The young managing director of the company, Sámi Ante Aikio tells that the project is a question of a living Sámi exhibition and village, which operates indoors and outdoors.
“The village presents Sámi traditions and modern day life, as well as providing activity services related to the Sámi.
Ante Aikio’s partner in the project is Kassiopeia Finland Oy.
Ante is very familiar with Levi, as he has worked, for instance, in Saamen Kammi with his father Niiles-Jouni and performed the yoik lyric chants.
The cultural village has 500 square metres of space indoors and 10,000 square metres outdoors. Outside is just like a living village with buildings and reindeer. Reindeer roam the village throughout the year, but mostly in the winter. The area has traditional buildings and objects. The village is not a museum; rather it is a living and working village.
“We organise activities and services. Modern day life is represented, for instance, by the presentation of GPS technologies”, tells Ante Aikio.
One of the most important settlements in Finland for the Sámi is the Municipality of Enontekiö, which is Kittilä’s and indeed Levi’s neighbouring municipality. The Sámi association, Johtti Sápmelačča from Enontekiö provides background support for the cultural village.

Pallas Media / Katri Alatalo

Raattama has a school with only six pupils and Finland’s smallest
day care centre for children
Katri Alatalo
Situated at the foot of the Pallas Fell in the village of Raattama is a small school. The school has six pupils, who are looked after by one teacher, a cook and a caretaker. The school has a pre-school class, first and second grades, but this winter the first grade does not have any pupils. Despite its size, the future of the Raattama School looks rather bright for the time being. The Municipality of Kittilä is currently contemplating if a third class could be made for the school. For the older schoolchildren of the village, the Municipality has specified the next school as the Sirkka School in Levi, which is at a distance of 60 kilometres one way from Raattama. However, some of the parents have decided to enrol their children with the Muonio School, which is slightly closer.
The parents of the Raattama School pupils have actively worked to save their school. Almost every small village school in Lapland has been closed down. It was only around 40 years ago that every village in Lapland had its own school. The children are playing together outside. Lilja asks the teacher if she can ring the bell. She rings the bell and the pupils rush indoors. Teacher Outi Ruotsala takes good care of the daily routines. The pupils stand next to their desks and politely wish the teacher good morning. After the morning song, I have the chance to ask the pupils some questions, and they are definitely willing and open to tell me about their lives. Leevi goes first:
“This is quite a nice school, even though I would prefer to be off school occasionally. I’m a little excited about what letter will be taught next.” Reading and mathematics are Leevi’s favourite subjects, as long as he is allowed to go outside every now and then.

Pallas Media / Katri Alatalo
 
Leevi, second year pupil of the Raattama School, doing reindeer work close to his home village.

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