This paper illustrates the conflict between the Sámi and the Swedish mining industry in the famous case of Kallak (Sámi: Gállok). A mine was planned to be erected on the lands of the native peoples of Scandinavia and parts of Russia, and these measures angered them. Therefore, they chose to erect a protest camp in which they stayed to prevent bulldozers and excavators from advancing onto their native soil. The Sámi deem it as culturally important because of reindeer herding and other nature-related, life-sustaining activities, which would be severely disrupted by the plans of the Beowulf Mining company.
For context, the paper explores the essentials of Sámi life and their rights, before further diving into the conflictual nature of the Gállok case. Using the concept of (on-site) resistance, the analysis sheds light on the different forms of it as well as on the violent altercations between activists and law enforcement.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: Mining in Sámi Traditional Lands
2. Theory: The Nature of Resistance
2.1. Research Design
2.2. Terminology and Concepts: Mining, Reindeer Herding
2.3. Theoretical Argument
2.4. Hunches
3. Empirical Analysis: Gállok/Kallak in Northern Sweden
3.1. Method
3.2. Operationalization and Materials
3.3. Kamp Gállok: On-site Resistance as Crucial Action
3.4. Effects on Sámi Rights and Liberties
4. Conclusion and Outlook
5. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper examines the ongoing land-use conflict between industrial mining interests and the indigenous Sámi population in Northern Sweden. It specifically explores how the anti-mining resistance movement in Gállok/Kallak has influenced the socio-cultural and political rights of the Sámi, and whether such collective action can effectively challenge the state’s extractivist development model.
- Analysis of the relationship between industrial mining and indigenous land rights.
- Evaluation of the "Kamp Gállok" resistance movement as a form of socio-political pressure.
- Exploration of how the Sámi define sustainability in contrast to industrial resource extraction.
- Assessment of the role of "invisibility" in legal and political discourse regarding indigenous rights.
- Investigation into the limitations of social movements in influencing Swedish governmental policy.
Excerpt from the publication
3.3. Kamp Gállok: On-site Resistance as Crucial Action
After Beowulf Mining’s clarifications of a plan, a movement began to form in the area four miles west of Jåhkåmåhkke, the conflict’s arena (Santana Faria, 2018: 98). The target for the diverse group of activists as actors were mining operations by the company and its individuals. Other targets were pro-mining Swedish politicians of the time, such as Minister of Enterprise Annie Lööf, arguing for ever-increasing welfare and the attractiveness of Sweden as a mining nation (Litzell, 2018: 21, 23).
Not only present activists wished to answer Sinclair-Poulton’s question ‘What local people?’ (Nyberg, 2017: 17), but they were determined to make clear that the "economic imperative" (Hagbom, 2015: 25) of the mining industry must be contested, to the well-being of the region and its people. To send their message, they employed many actions, a significant one being on-site resistance. People were unwilling to tolerate that "grounds are dug up, destroyed and changed for the entire future" (Larsson, 2014: 37; own translation).
Physical presence was important, for example, for archaeological reasons: Demonstrated by Larsson (2014) and Litzell (2018), mining companies would not accurately describe the area really affected. Examination procedures and transport infrastructure had a high impact before the movement of 2013 (Larsson, 2014: 43; Litzell, 2018: 20).
Ever since the Chairman asked his provocative question, emotions about mining in Gállok had been mounting. In February 2012, at the Jåhkåmåhkke Winter Market, activists held a demonstration (Strid, 2013: 19). This was when "the real resistance" (ibid.; own translation) started.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Mining in Sámi Traditional Lands: This chapter introduces the context of mining in Sápmi, emphasizing the indigenous Sámi population’s connection to their land and the threat posed by increasing industrial resource extraction.
2. Theory: The Nature of Resistance: This chapter delineates the research design and establishes theoretical foundations—specifically concepts of invisibility, sustainability, and social movement theory—to analyze the Gállok situation.
3. Empirical Analysis: Gállok/Kallak in Northern Sweden: This chapter details the case study, focusing on the methods used for data collection and describing the timeline, targets, and strategies of the anti-mining movement in Gállok.
4. Conclusion and Outlook: This chapter synthesizes the research findings, reflecting on the impact of the movement while acknowledging the significant challenges the Sámi continue to face regarding political recognition in Sweden.
5. Bibliography: This section provides a comprehensive list of all academic sources, reports, and digital documents cited throughout the research.
Keywords
Sámi, Gállok, Kallak, Mining Resistance, Indigenous Rights, Sustainability, Reindeer Husbandry, Social Movements, Extractive Industries, Land Use Conflict, Political Pressure, Sápmi, Invisibility, Sweden, Human Rights
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the land-use conflict in Gállok/Kallak, Sweden, specifically examining how the anti-mining resistance movement serves as a response to the threats posed by mining companies to Sámi culture, rights, and reindeer herding traditions.
What are the central thematic fields?
The central themes include indigenous rights, the ethics of resource extraction vs. sustainable land management, the role of political marginalization ("invisibility"), and the mobilization strategies of social movements.
What is the primary overarching research question?
The research asks: How has the anti-mining movement in Gállok influenced the Sámi’s rights situation and cultural position in Sweden?
Which scientific methods are applied in this work?
The author utilizes a retrospective process-tracing analysis. This allows for a deeper understanding of the causal dynamics, procedural movements, and the evolution of the specific resistance actions taken over time.
What topics are discussed in the main body (Empirical Analysis)?
The main body focuses on the operationalization of resistance, the specific events of the "Kamp Gállok" protests, the use of social media and public demonstrations as activism tools, and the direct effects of these activities on the legal and political status of the Sámi.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
Key terms include Sápmi, Gállok, indigenous rights, reindeer husbandry, extractive industries, land use conflict, and social mobilization.
How does the author define the concept of 'invisibility' in the Gállok case?
Invisibility is used as a term to describe how state agencies and the mining industry symbolically and legally erase the Sámi people from political and territorial planning, essentially denying their status as a relevant local population.
Does the resistance movement succeed according to the author?
While the author notes that the movement successfully increased societal awareness and challenged dominant narratives, it had limited political success, as the Swedish government eventually granted an exploitation permit, signaling the persistence of extractivist government agendas.
- Citation du texte
- Leo Kempe (Auteur), 2022, Cultural Protection as Political Pressure? Implications of the Anti-Mining Movement in Gállok/Kallak for Sámi Rights and Liberties, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1437084
