The plan was that the Sámi Parliament, at its plenum in Arvidsjaur, would decide on the board’s proposal, where the big change is that even non-reindeer Sami should be able to become members of a Sámi village. They would thus have the same opportunity to hunt and fish in the area of the Sami villages north of the cultivation border.
Forest Sami changed sides
But a majority of the members did not consider that the proposal was sufficiently processed. The decision on re-referral was hammered out by the Forest Sami, who sit on the board of the Sami Parliament, changing sides and voting against their own proposal.
Håkan Jonsson, the Hunting & Fishing Sami, still hopes that the Sami Parliament will have time to submit its opinion to the government by August 31 at the latest.
“Not set in stone”
– On June 20-21 we have a board meeting and will discuss the issue. Before that, we will consult the other parties. The handling of the Sami village issue is not set in stone, he says.
If this does not work out, the Sami Parliament needs additional time to respond. In addition to the officials’ formal application, Håkan Jonsson will present the request in the recurring authority dialogue with the government.
Awaiting an initiative
The Ministry of Climate and Business is awaiting an initiative from the Sami Parliament.
“The Government Office has not received any request for an extended time for the reporting of the assignment and therefore assumes that the assignment will be reported on time,” they wrote in an email to SVT Sápmi on Monday.
Can get out of sync
The Sámi Parliament’s proposal for a new organization of the Sámi villages is intended to be included in the work on a new reindeer husbandry law. If the Sámi Parliament does not deliver its part, at the same time as the so-called Renmarkskommtté’s partial report arrives on August 31, then you will be out of step.
– That would put us in an awkward position, says Håkan Jonsson.
SVT Sápmi seeks the Chairman of the Reinland Committee, Eric M Runesson, for a comment.