Legal Protection of Sami Traditional Livelihoods from the Adverse Impacts of Mining: A Comparison of the Level of Protection Enjoyed by Sami in Their Four Home States

Authors

  • Timo Koivurova Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
  • Vladimir Masloboev Institute of Industrial Ecology Problems in the North, Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia
  • Kamrul Hossain Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland; Faculty of Law, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
  • Vigdis Nygaard Northern Research Institute, Alta, Norway
  • Anna Petrétei Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
  • Svetlana Vinogradova Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17585/arctic.v6.76

Abstract

As a consequence of the growing global need for minerals, extractive industries are continuously expanding. In the North, together with several environmental problems such as climate change, this poses a real threat to the traditional livelihoods of Sami people. The article examines how the rights of Sami indigenous people are protected against adverse impacts of mining activities. The relevant national legislation is analyzed in all the four countries where Sami are present. It is specifically examined how the main mining act in each country protects the right of Sami people to their traditional livelihoods. Finally, the article sheds light on the actual effectiveness of the legal regulation. This is done by analyzing the results of interviews conducted with relevant actors and stakeholders in the mining industry.

Usage Statistics
Total downloads:
Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Timo Koivurova, Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland

Research Professor, Director, Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland

Vladimir Masloboev, Institute of Industrial Ecology Problems in the North, Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia

Professor, Institute of Industrial Ecology Problems in the North, Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia

Kamrul Hossain, Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland; Faculty of Law, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland

Senior Researcher, Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland and Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland

Vigdis Nygaard, Northern Research Institute, Alta, Norway

Senior Research, Northern Research Institute, Alta, Norway

Anna Petrétei, Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland

Researcher, PhD student, Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland


Svetlana Vinogradova, Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia

Researcher, Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia

Published

2015-03-30

How to Cite

Koivurova, T., Masloboev, V., Hossain, K., Nygaard, V., Petrétei, A., & Vinogradova, S. (2015). Legal Protection of Sami Traditional Livelihoods from the Adverse Impacts of Mining: A Comparison of the Level of Protection Enjoyed by Sami in Their Four Home States. Arctic Review on Law and Politics, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.17585/arctic.v6.76

Issue

Section

Original Articles

Keywords:

indigenous peoples, Sami rights, mining