Sweden's nomadic reindeer herders have won a 30-year battle for land rights in a court case that saw the state accused of racism towards the country's only indigenous people. The Gällivare district court on Wednesday granted the tiny Sami village of Girjas, inside the Arctic Circle, exclusive rights to control hunting and fishing in the area, restoring powers stripped by Sweden's parliament in 1993.
Åsa Larsson Blind, vice-president of the Sami Council, called the verdict a symbolic step towards getting Sami rights acknowledged and hoped it would shape policies in Sweden. The case followed a long struggle, including petitions to the European Commission and the Court of Human Rights. During the trial, state lawyers argued that the indigenous status of the Sami was irrelevant, prompting an open letter from 59 academic researchers condemning their use of "rhetoric of race biology". Sami-Swedish artist Sofia Jannok wrote: "The state wants to erase us from history."
Larsson Blind said she was relieved the court had seen through the "colonial speech" of state representatives, adding that the verdict would strengthen many Sami individuals after harsh wording used in court. The case, though limited to a small geographical area, stemmed from broader frustration that Sami issues were debated endlessly without decisions. Attorney general Anna Skarhed had defended the state's position, saying there was no question that the Sami are an indigenous people but that this was not the issue. Lawyers may still appeal.
Matti Berg, chairman of Girjas village, who faced threats after the case was launched, told Swedish media: "It is a long struggle and we have been victorious, I am so happy and relieved." However, some local Swedes expressed concern. Hunter Robert Björk told reporters that the next step could be restrictions on snowmobiling and moose hunting, while Birgitta Isaksson of the Swedish Hunters Association in Kiruna said the decision was worrying and expected an appeal.
Sweden does not register ethnicity, but an estimated 20,000 Sami live in the country, with a minority continuing traditional reindeer herding. The Sami language was recognised as an official minority language in 2000. The Sami are also fighting plans by Britain's Beowulf Mining to extract iron ore in the far north; Larsson Blind said the verdict does not directly affect mining but is one piece of the puzzle to gain influence over such projects.
