Sustainability for the reindeer herding samis with the law of Finnmark

Abstract

The Law of Finnmark, Finnmarksloven, has the aim of arranging for land and natural resources in Finnmark to be managed in an ecological sustainable way that will benefit the inhabitants of Finnmark, and especially the Sami peoples. The present study addresses the issue of sustainability for one group of Samis in Finnmark, namely the reindeer herders. The Sami reindeer herders, dependant on the right to use land and natural resources for herding, belong to a minority in Finnmark. Using the theory of political ecology this study seeks to understand the present situation regarding sustainability for the reindeer herding Samis and the possible impacts of the Law of Finnmark. Focusing on the process behind the law, the implementation of the law and sustainability this study shows that the law can contribute to strengthen the rights of the Sami people but not necessarily the reindeer herding Samis. This study suggests that the Law of Finnmark may rather worsen than improve the present sustainability for the Sami reindeer herders by acknowledging and extending land rights to other groups of people in Finnmark, and thereby weaken the existing land rights for the Sami reindeer herders.