In 2020, the Supreme Court ruled, in the so-called Girjasdomen, that the Sami village of the same name has the exclusive right to small game hunting and fishing. With reference to the claim of ancient memory, it is not possible to circumvent the right of the Sami village.
After the verdict, the Renmarkskommittee was formed, which was given the task of, among other things, investigating whether more Sami villages have the same right. The investigation was led by Eric Runesson, Justice of the Supreme Court. After two years of work, they came up with an interim report in 2023. And they answer yes. Several Sami villages have the same rights.
The investigation is closed – Sami villages sue the state
However, no political decisions have been made after the interim report. Instead, Sami villages, who say they are tired of waiting, have chosen to sue the Swedish state. And last week the announcement came that the government chooses to shut down the clearing committee and start the work again.
– It is clear that a review is needed here. The government intends to appoint a new investigation into the Reindeer Act with new directives as soon as possible, said Rural Affairs Minister Peter Kullgren in a press release.
The chairman Eric M. Runesson is disappointed in retrospect.
– We have worked out what I personally think is a solid factual basis that we thought could be the basis for political decision-making, says Eric M. Runesson to SVT Sápmi.
What has gone wrong?
– Nothing has gone wrong anywhere. It has proven politically difficult to accept this.
“Leaves a bad taste in the mouth”
Runesson’s interpretation is that the politicians were simply surprised by the fact that the rights of the Sami villages are so extensive under the law.
– It may not lead to cheers and cheers if you are looking for the state to have control over hunting and fishing, he says.
His suggestion to the politicians is that, instead of redoing the investigation, just accept that the legal situation looks like it does. And then negotiate with the Sami villages.
– That’s what everyone else does when you want to acquire someone else’s right. Then you negotiate about it and then you pay for it. But the image I think many Sami villages get is that the state wants that right without paying for it. And that probably leaves a bad taste in many people’s mouths.