For the first time ever, researchers have gained access to the Sami villages’ agreements with developers.
After analyzing them, the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) released a report showing that Sami villages are at a clear disadvantage in the agreements.
– It is that the agreements that the Sami villages sign with developers provide a certain degree of protection for the reindeer, the reindeer herding and the reindeer’s well-being, but that we see a large number of risks that outweigh the benefits that the Sami villages now receive, says researcher Rasmus Kløcker Larsen.
SSR not surprised
In total, five Sami villages and 15 agreements have been the basis for the research, which has been ongoing for over three years.
The Swedish Sami National Confederation (SSR), which has been a partner in the project, is not surprised by the result.
– It wasn’t a surprise, we know that the developers are often large multinationals or huge Swedish state companies that write agreements and they have all the resources in the world to formulate agreements that suit their purposes, so it wasn’t really a shock , says union chairman Matti Blind Berg.
“Sign or be run over”
The research has looked at wind power, tourism, car testing, hydropower, mineral mining and outdoor sports. The worst contracts are signed with the wind power companies.
– We promote wind power as an industry where we see that many companies enter and expect the Sami villages to sign so-called gag clauses, which are about not being allowed to appeal to authorities and courts and also confidentiality clauses where you are not allowed to tell about their agreements public, says Kløcker Larsen.
– When we get a contract proposal in hand, we are often faced with the wall, sign the contract or get run over. After all, it’s only degrees of overtaking that make a difference, says Blind Berg.
The research into the agreements is now to be extended for two years, with the work starting in May.