The Saami, a threatened minority
The only people in Europe to live mostly north of the Arctic Circle, the Saami remain the westernmost representatives of the reindeer culture, which extends along the entire arctic coastline of Eurasia. Here, they cohabit with other, generally more numerous populations, with whom they are increasingly integrating. Most of them are now bilingual. They are undoubtedly one of the most endangered minorities in Western Europe, in danger of disappearing. Divided internally by dialects different enough to prohibit inter-comprehension, and increasingly in the minority, they must, in return for the advantages offered by modern civilization, integrate more and more into the states of which they are citizens. The abandonment of an ancestral way of life perfectly adapted to the natural environment is felt by some of them as a real alienation. On this question, the case is always passionate and the discussions will be very instructive.
State structure
Finland was a forerunner, establishing a Saami delegation in 1973. The Parliament was founded in Inari in 1995, and is based primarily on two laws: the Act on the Use of Sami before Administrative Authorities of 1991, and the Sami Language Act of 2003. The 2000 Constitution also recognizes special rights for the Saami minority. These are designed to protect and preserve the Saami language and culture. In 2012, Sajos (the Sami Parliament) inaugurated an architecturally splendid new building to house its parliamentarians. This is a source of great pride for the Sami community.
In Norway , since 1989, Saami elections have been held in conjunction with Norwegian elections. The Parliament (inaugurated in 1984 as the Sami Rights Committee) is based in Karasjok. The Sámediggi is made up of 39 members, elected every 4 years from the 7 Norwegian constituencies. To vote, you must be over 18 and registered with Parliament. You must, of course, be Saami and speak Saami (or have a Saami-speaking relative). Russian Sami citizens who have been registered for more than 3 years have access to the electoral register.
In Sweden, the Parliament was established in Kiruna in 1992. But unlike in Norway and Finland, the status of the Sami people is not constitutionally protected. Parliament only recognizes the Sami people as an indigenous people, and the matter is dealt with by the Ministry of Agriculture. Parliament is made up of 31 members, elected every 5 years. For this reason, Sweden appears less willing than its neighbors to respect this indigenous minority.
Current political issues
It has to be admitted that the political progress of each Saami parliament is rather uncertain, and that a more imposing union would not be out of place if it were to assert its currently fragile authority.
In Finland , while the Saami political formation seems rather effective, its political achievements are less so. Of course, the unequivocal recognition of Saami culture and language is a success, but the reciprocal in terms of land and resource rights is not. Finland does not officially recognize Saami rights to reindeer herding.
Social and political progress seems to have come from Norway, when, in 2005, the Finnmark Act was passed, recognizing Sami customs and rights to land, territory and resources. However, little concrete action has been taken since.
In Sweden , Saami political formation remains almost anecdotal. No clear program has yet emerged from this union. There is only talk of a "right to a living Sami culture", but no natural, political or social resources are made available to the Sami. In 2011, however, the Swedish Supreme Court recognized the right of three Sami villages to use the surrounding land for reindeer grazing.
The solution could come from the Saami Parliamentary Council, created in 2000. This non-governmental body, linked to the Arctic Council, was created to ensure a form of cooperation between the three national parliaments (Russia sits on it as an observer). Its effectiveness is still uncertain, but it demonstrates a willingness to unite on a larger scale, going beyond the boundaries established by others. The members of this Council, drawn from the various Sami parliaments, are working on a Convention on the Sami peoples of the Nordic countries. The aim is to "confirm and strengthen the rights of the Sami people to preserve and enhance their language, culture, livelihood and way of life with the least possible interference across national borders".
Main economic resources
With the boom in maritime transport and the efforts made in hydraulic engineering at the end of the 19th century, energy production expanded rapidly, really kick-starting industrial production in Lapland. Two main sectors provide the region's economic resources.
The dense forests of the north favor the timber industry. To find out more, visit the Pilke Science Center in Rovaniemi (Finland), which explains wood processing. Iron mining, mainly in northern Norway and Sweden, is also booming. The establishment of rail networks, such as the Iron Road between Kiruna and Narvik, encouraged trade between the two countries. Kiruna (Sweden) is home to the world's largest iron ore mine - and you can visit it! The mine is responsible for the town's entire relocation, and every day it produces the material needed to build more than 6 Eiffel Towers! Fishing and whaling are also important factors in the Norwegian economy. On the other hand, Lapland is a victim of the rural exodus. The harsh climate and desert-like terrain are driving people to migrate to the big cities. The peasant economy is suffering, and farmers live mainly off subsidies.
Place of tourism
Today, tourism is an important part of the local economy. In Norway, the Coastal Express (Hurtigruten), a cruise liner that runs along the entire coastline, provides a rather easy and extremely popular way to get around. In the rest of the region, locals are increasingly exploiting the magic of their landscapes to attract tourists. Guided excursions to forests, lakes and mountains are on the increase, as are sporting activities (skiing, hiking, snowmobiling) and leisure activities (dog sledding, fishing). Lapland becomes an increasingly popular destination during the festive season for travellers in search of Santa Claus and enchantment! Summer tourism is also very much in evidence. Firstly, to discover the midnight sun, but also to enjoy activities such as rafting, kayaking, mountain biking and more. More and more adventurers come to Lapland in search of a change of scenery and a challenge.
Global warming
The three countries stretching across the region have different positions with regard to the European Union: Norway is not a member, unlike Sweden and Finland (since 1995), and the euro is only used in Finland. This is what Lapland's economy is all about. A vast territory, with different policies, that must develop with its diversity. While preserving its language, traditions and way of life... The other concern of the Sami people is, of course, global warming. Tiina Sanila-Aikio, President of the Saami Parliament of Finland, who was on a diplomatic visit to Paris in March 2017, made a point of alerting public opinion on this subject in the newspaper Le Monde: "We are suffering the full force of the effects of climate change: given that winter is shorter and climatic conditions more extreme, we can no longer rely on our traditional calendar (editor's note: which has eight seasons). [...] If the situation continues to worsen, the Arctic indigenous peoples, who live in close contact with nature, will be threatened with extinction." Rising temperatures, unstable seasons and industrial development are a particular hindrance to reindeer herders, who struggle to feed their animals and move them to lands where rivers now freeze later and numerous infrastructures encroach on pastures. Rising temperatures trigger rainy episodes that freeze the soil and prevent the reindeer from accessing their food, which is usually buried under the snow. Disturbed by too-early snows, they also sometimes migrate too early, which completely upsets their equilibrium. Not to mention the threat to the Arctic's exceptional and extremely fragile flora.
The question of borders
Finland, which shares a 1,340 km border with Russia, is in the firing line of the risk of a Russian invasion. This is why the country has announced that it will build a barbed-wire fence with Russia in 2023. Work began a few days after Finland joined NATO, on April 4, 2023. The first part of the fence, nearly 200 km long and costing 380 million euros, will be in south-eastern Finland, according to AFP. However, of the ten or so sections planned, one will also protect Finnish and Norwegian Lapland to the north.
