Arctic Peoples

By Clive Tesar

Saami in Sweden are demanding that the Swedish government improve protection for traditional Saami reindeer herding territories. The Saami are making the demand in the face of increasing pressures on traditional Saami lands for mining and wind-power developments.

We are at a crisis point in Saami areas whereby the last unexploited Saami areas are being claimed by a mining and wind-power boom,

says Malin Brännström, lawyer for the Swedish Saami Association.

The state has a responsibility to ensure that Saami rights are protected. But the state is currently making it easier and easier for resource projects to go ahead, with no consideration being given to the impacts on traditional Saami livelihoods, such as reindeer herding.

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by Clive Tesar

New Swedish legislation gives back to the Saami more control over their traditional occupation of reindeer herding. The law, which came into effect at the beginning of the year, hands over authority for a variety of reindeer herding activities to the Saami Parliament of Sweden. The new authorities include setting of local borders, and some subsidy and compensation programs affecting reindeer herders.

Mattias Åhrén, head of the Human Rights Section of the Saami Council says,

“This is certainly a step in the right direction, increasing Saami self-determination. Still, the issues handed over are not the most critical ones. Swedish authorities still retain control over the issues most pressing to reindeer husbandry.”

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