Rans Sameby already put his foot down last summer. Then they informed the rally organizers that they oppose races on their turf in 2025.
Rally Sweden has been organized in Umeå since 2021. In the first years, the competitions were surrounded by long negotiations with the Sami villages. It took only a few weeks before the start before it was clear where and how the rally would be arranged.
The organizers then referred to their own ignorance of the conditions. In the future, they would be out in good time to reach an agreement with the Sami villages.
The agreement has expired
Since then, they have also signed agreements with the Sami villages before the competitions. But those agreements expire before the rally in February 2025. And so far it is unclear whether the parties will come to an agreement.
Grans Samiby states, in a consultation protocol that Folkbladet has seen, that they saw the first years as a trial period. And that it is clear to them that the rally has not been planned and executed as they had hoped. Therefore, they are completely opposed to the competitions being staged on their turf in 2025.
Ran’s Sami village also opposes several of the planned rally routes. They refer to the fact that the bait in advance looks to be worse this winter. And that the reindeer therefore need larger areas to move around.
“Bad grazing means that reindeer move across areas, it is not possible to guarantee a reindeer-free competition distance”, they state in the consultation according to Folkbladet.
Rally Sweden: “No comments”
But despite the opposition of the Sami villages, the rally has planned sections on their grazing grounds. In total, 14 of the rally’s 18 routes are planned on roads where the Sami villages oppose the rally.
The County Administrative Board must now make a decision on permits for the competitions. They have informed Rally Sweden about the attitude of the Sami villages. The organizers now have this week to comment on how they stand on it.
When Folkbladet asks the question to Rally Sweden, they do not want to comment on the attitude of the Sambyans.
– I have no comments right now because it is an ongoing consultation and out of respect for everyone involved, says Erik Åström at Rally Sweden.