On December 6, Sweden and the United States signed the new defense agreement in which the United States gets unimpeded access to 17 different Swedish military bases.
If the defense agreement is approved by the Riksdag, the Kalixfors military base outside Kiruna will become one of the places where the US military can store military equipment and stay in. The same area is also winter grazing land for the Laeva Sami village.
– I’m afraid that it will really cut off the Sami village, that we won’t be allowed to stay here any longer, says Helena Partapuoli, reindeer herder from Laeva’s Sami village.
Fear that the reindeer will be shot
Helena Partapuoli has grazed her reindeer in the Kalixfors area, since she started working with reindeer as a 19-year-old.
When SVT Sápmi visits her, she is busy keeping together a herd of reindeer that will soon be moved west. The area she works in on a daily basis belongs to her Sami village of Laevas, but is also at the same time the military’s firing range.
She says that it is not always easy to get grazing peace for the reindeer in the military area. If exercises are in progress, they must move the reindeer and increase surveillance.
– My biggest fear is that the reindeer will be shot in the winter when they are shooting.
Defense cannot say how the area is affected
The defense does not want to appear for an interview, but responds in writing to SVT Sápmi:
“It is too early to reason today about what local impact the agreement may have”.
The answer does not surprise Partapuoli.
– That is the usual response from those in power, from companies and various intrusions, this is also an intrusion, she concludes.
If the agreement is approved, according to the defense it should be able to enter into force at the end of 2024.