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EDICOLA / KIOSK | LADINLiane Gruda
Bozen, Berlin, 22. October 2006
In the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, and
Finland (as well as on the Kola peninsula of Russia) the
Sámi are an ethnic minority. Yet they are also the
indigenous people of these areas. As such, their rights are not
only guaranteed by UN convention ILO 169 but also by national
laws. In the most northern communities of Sweden, for instance,
the Sámi can chose to send their children to Sámi
or Swedish kindergartens and schools. Furthermore, they have the
right to address public authorities in Sámi and are
entitled to an answer in their own language.
Reindeer breeding, and everything connected to it, continues to
be a strong source of cultural identification for Swedish
Sámi. Until today Sámi reindeer herders drive their
herds to the summer pastures in the mountains and tundras, and
return to the forests of the low mountain range and lowlands in
winter. In doing so, they inevitably cross the Swedish-Norwegian
border but this matters neither to the reindeers nor their
herdsmen. The right of Swedish Sámi to migrate to the
summer pastures in Norway (and the Norwegian Sámis' right
to migrate to the winter pastures in Sweden) is regulated in the
Lappkodicillen since 1751 - a treaty between both kingdoms that
is still valid today. Accordingly, the marking of calves in
Norway in the summer, slaughtering in autumn, and the division of
herds in winter are oldestablished occasions for gathering in the
course of a reindeer breeders' year - social cornerstones that
enjoy a long and rich tradition.
Yet Norway is undermining the existing
contracts. In July 2006, when Swedish Sámi of the
Sarivouma Sameby cooperative arrived at lake Altevatn in Norway
for calf marking and gathering of their herds, they searched in
vain for their reindeer enclosures: Norwegian police had taken
away the fences by helicopter on behalf of the Authority of
Reindeer Pastures. For the Sámi this is more than just a
conflict about reindeer pastures. Says reindeer breeder Nils
Torbjörn Nutti:
"I am a Sámi from Sarivouma Sameby. We are breeding
reindeers in the areas of Altevatn, Bardu, and Dividal/Anjavass
in Troms Fylke in Norway. We use these lands as summer pastures.
The conflict is about those areas in which Norwegian and Swedish
Sámi are breeding reindeers across the borders. In winter
our homes and herds are located in the Soppero area in Sweden.
But Sámi families from Sarivouma and other cooperatives
("samebyar") in Sweden have ever been settling on the Norwegian
side of the border also, and down to the Atlantic coast, using
the land as reindeer pastures, for hunting and fishing".
The Norwegian state has now confiscated this land, driving us
ever further to the east and closer to the Swedish border. This
was done methodically, by means of political resolutions and the
Norwegianisation of these areas. Despite our protests, we were
robbed of our land by conventions in which we had no say and
which deprived us of our rights. With its passive stance and by
neglecting to represent the rights of the Sámi in the
dispute over our pastures between Norway and Sweden, the Swedish
state has clearly contributed to our expulsion. The acquired
lands were repopulated with Norwegians from the south. Other
sectors of the economy were promoted, and during the last 30 to
40 years Norwegian Sámi from other pasture regions
(Finnmarken) were resettled to these areas. The intention of such
measures is quite clear: The land is to be developed and
industrialized, to be "blessed" with modern civilization, so that
Norwegian regional welfare politics can be practised there as
well.
The conflict further escalated during the last
years due to chicaneries, provocations, and continued
encroachments on the part of the Norwegian state. The tearing
down of reindeer enclosures, new political resolutions in
violation of the Lappcodisillen, illegal seizure of fishing nets,
the obstruction of our work, as well as high fines for the
allegedly illegal use of pastures are just a few examples. All
this is happening in the year 2006, in supposedly modern times,
and in a constitutional state that claims to respects human
rights. We Sámi feel that enough is enough, and that these
encroachments on our rights must stop. We ask both states to come
to reason and assume their responsibility, and especially call on
Norway to acknowledge our right to the territory and to
contribute to a solution of the conflict. Has the old treaty of
1751, the Lappcodisillen, that was once signed by both kings for
the protection and safeguarding of Sámi rights, been lost
and forgotten? This treaty can neither be repealed one-sidedly
nor with the consent of both states without trampling the rights
of the Sámi. We fought for a very long time in order to
reclaim the land that was stolen from us. Our situation is
difficult enough as it is. Should we lose further territory
survival on the basis of reindeer breeding will no longer be
possible. Part of our identity as Sámi would be
lost.
As far as the conflict with our fellow Sámi in Norway is
concerned: Our old summer pastures have been given to them as
winter pastures although they are not at all suitable for such
use, given that reindeer lichens are scarce there. The herds can
graze for a short period of time but not for the whole winter. We
offered them the right to access our winter pastures in Sweden as
a solution but were not heard - neither by the Sámi nor by
the Norwegian state. It seems they are contented by bringing
their animals over the winter with pelletized fodder. And yet
they know that for centuries these areas have only been suitable
as summer pastures. Otherwise feeding with pellets would not be
necessary. But is this supposed to be the future of reindeer
breeding? Does the state have the right to support those who
further his interests only and expel everybody else? In my
opinion we have to come to our senses and find a solution by
talking together about the problem. We are forced to cooperate in
order to survive. Surely nobody wants to disadvantage the other
side. Or has Norwegianisation reached the point where the
Sámi are conducting state business?
During the last ten to twenty years, we
perceived Norway as a state that dedicated itself to human rights
as well as to the rights of the Sámi, for instance by
signing UN convention ILO 169, by forming the representative body
of the Sámi, the "Sametinget", or by passing the
"Finnmarksgesetz". In practice, however, this goodwill appears to
extend only to citizens and taxpayers of Norway. Norway does not
seem to be willing to recognize the Sámi as a people, as
an indigenous population with its own language, culture, and
economic system that has acquired its right to lands and waters
through hundreds and thousands of years of usage. We are one
people, and yet we have been divided into citizens of different
states by the politics of two great powers. At the same time both
Norway and Sweden have fought against injustice and inequity in
other countries. Or were those mere charades, distractions from a
bad conscience due to the injustices they committed themselves?
It was Sweden, by the way, that took the initiative in appointing
a committee for the preparation of ILO 169.
The local population in Troms Fylke in Norway is supporting us
with letters in our fight to regain the old pastures and is
demanding the same from Norwegian politicians. We have often felt
this support in meetings, discussions, and contributions of the
local media. Now we expect the same sort of understanding from
those responsible in Oslo and Stockholm. It is time that the
states and their politicians assume responsibility and let words
be followed by actions. They need to prove they are not just
protectors of minorities and advocates of a multi-cultural
society in other countries or towards their own citizens but also
when it comes to their own indigenous people - the
Sámi!
Translation into english by Niki
Mavridis. Contact details and further
information:
Nils Torbjörn Nutti, Tel. 0046 - (0)980 - 213 29
Hans-Joachim Gruda, c/o homo peregrinus, Tel. 0049 - (0)30 - 405
399 48