April 26 marks the 30 year anniversary of the worst civilian nuclear disaster in history. When a nuclear power plant at Chernobyl exploded, it coated the earth with radioactive material — as far as the picturesque, snow-capped mountains of Scandanavia, where for generations, the indigenous Sami people lived in harmony with nature.

Many worked as boazovázzi, or "reindeer walkers," herding the animals over hundreds of miles of terrain and selling their meat come slaughter season. The reindeer were a cultural and economic centerpiece for the Sami people.

Chernobyl poisoned their way of life by turning the reindeer radioactive. Thirty years later, the reindeer walkers are still devastated.

Photographer Amos Chapple with Radio Free Europe traveled to the Norweigan village of Snasa, where he met with herders fighting to preserve their traditions. Chapple shared a few photos with us, and you can read the whole story here.