[13][14][15] The area where the Kautokeino settlement is located became ice-free approximately 10,500 years ago after the last Ice age.

The ice edge retreated south before disappearing completely from Fennoscandia 9,600 years ago, most recently in Sarek in Sweden.

[17] In 2020, the University of Tromsø conducted archaeological excavations at Gáidnomanjávri I Kautokeino, approximately 300 meters northeast of the church.

The results from the samples show that there has been human activity in the area which has been dated back to 5560–5520 BC, mesolithic period.

In 1967, the archaeologist Povl Simonsen excavated at Junttevađđa, where he uncovered a total of 10 stone piles that lay in a row at intervals of between 5 and 13 metres.

Smith believes it may be a combination of the words goahti (Sami for a large tent) and kylla(sic) (kylä, Finnish for hamlet).

[35] In 1845, measurements were made for Struve Geodetic Arc at the mountain tops of Lodiken (Luvdiidcohkka) and Bealjasvarri in Kautokeino.

Sheldon Jackson's purpose was to use the Sami's expertise in reindeer herding to teach this knowledge to the Inuit in Alaska.

[38] The names of those who left from Kautokeino are listed below, organized by families: Per Aslaksen Rist and his wife Berit Anne Andersdatter Spein with their daughters Marit and Inger.

Additionally, it sought to establish reindeer farming in Alaska as a means to provide a consistent food source for Alaskans.

[58] Otto von Rosen had been mentioned in newspapers for suspicious activity in the Karesuando area earlier in January, and was then suspected of being a German spy.

Kautokeino was severely affected by a wave of the Spanish flu in January 1919; that month, 24 people died in the municipality, corresponding to 2.2% of the population.

[61] In 1921, 3 families from Masi and 1 bachelor from Kautokeino were recruited for a reindeer herding project in Baffin Island, Canada, under the auspices of the Hudson Bay Company.

[62] 3 families from Kautokeino traveled to the northern coast of Canada, to the area where the Mackenzie River flows into the sea, near the present-day town of Inuvik, which was founded later in 1953.

[63] The purpose of this project, too, was to introduce reindeer herding and secure a stable food supply for the local population.

[70] A Serbian prisoner of war named Bora Ivankovic was arrested by the Germans in autumn 1942 and executed in Kautokeino.

[71] A German Focke-Wulf Fw 189 reconnaissance aircraft made an emergency landing on 15 October 1944 at Flyvarjávri 13 kilometers south of Kautokeino.

[78] The 139th Mountain Regiment was the German unit that was about to be defeated by Norwegian forces at Bjørnfjell in June 1940, during the battles of Narvik before Norway had to capitulate when the Allies withdrew.

[78] The brigade's mission in Kautokeino in the autumn of 1944 was to form the flank protection for the Sturmbock-Stellung line which ran across the Finnish wedge north of Karesuando.

The Germans set up positions in Kautokeino due to concerns about a potential Allied landing at Hammerfest and a subsequent assault through Alta, moving directly south towards Finland across the Finnmarksvidda.

Additionally, they aimed to prevent Finnish or, in the worst-case scenario, Russian forces from circumventing the Strumbuck-Stellung line in Karesuando, which would allow them to breach the German positions and proceed towards the Lyngen fjord in Norway.

[79] South and southwest of Kautokeino, defensive positions were established at Máttavárri, Joppevárri, Áddjit, Gálggovárri and Junkkavárri.

The result was that the population listened to the oral order in Sámi and failed to evacuate to the Helligskogen in Troms, instead they escaped to the Finnmarksvidda and spread out over a large area.

[1] The Guovdageaidnu-Kautokeino River runs from a lake at the Finnish border, north through the villages of Guovdageaidnu (Kautokeino) and Máze before it leaves into Alta municipality and changes name to Altaelva.

Other lakes in the municipality include Bajášjávri, Bajit Spielgajávri, Biggejávri, Čárajávri, Dátkojávri, Gahččanjávri, Gavdnjajávri, Geađgejávri, Geašjávri, Guolehis Suolojávri, Heammojávri, Iešjávri, Láhpojávri, Latnetjávri, Nuorbejávri, Rágesjávri, Sálganjávri, Soagŋojávri, Stuora Galbajávri, Stuorajávri, Šuoikkatjávri, Suolojávri, Virdnejávri, and Vuolit Spielgajávri.

Kautokeino has a subarctic climate (Dfc) with cool to mild summers and long, cold and fairly dry winters.

Located quite far inland on the Arctic highlands of the Finnmarksvidda plateau of Northern Norway, Kautokeino generally has warmer summer days than the coast to the north, but also much colder winter temperatures.

There are virtually thousands of lakes in the municipality, and these combined with the Altaelva waterway system provide habitats for a whole host of wetland species.

Today, also the Sami culture is celebrated with many yoik concerts, Sami theater shows, reindeer races, snowmobile races, ice fishing competitions, parties, and the Sámi Grand Prix; a Sámi version of the Eurovision Song Contest where in addition to the best song, the best yoik is also selected.

In addition, the Sami Film Festival is usually held during the Easter, which is notable for having an outdoor cinema made of snow.