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In my Sámi siida region men used to wear this kind of hat instead of the more common one pictured above. We don't know for how long they used FourWindsHat like women. Obviously perhaps since it started to get common among other Sámi tribes and also women's hat got bigger. This hat is made according to the old hat. I took the pattern from an old hat at Musea Noiti Viessu in Salla at the same time when I traced ForestSámiWomen'sBonnet.
This Men'sFourWindsHat has two different kind of fur. The design is traditional but often claimed to be fake because of the sheep fur. But it is not. It bases on the tradition with sheep fur around the edge and other fur around the forehead part. Other fur is often reindeer or beaver. This one has wild mink which my father-in-law hunt.
It is often claimed Sámi did not have or possessed sheep. But they did, not reindeer nomad Sámi but some other groups did. Since when? Since the sheep got up to the north obviously at least 1000 years ago. You can have sheep when living not so nomad life, like SeaSámi/CoastalSàmi tribes did. Forest Sàmi have always lived semi-nomad life and when they were forced to put up permanent estates (=build the houses to preserve their traditional living areas) they were able to have 1-3 sheep. At least then they learnt to use sheep as a source of material and food. Moore like material because why to kill an animal who produces wool when the forest is full of wild game. 😊 Sheep is not our traditional food, I can't even cook it!