Loga sámegillii. Elle-Rávdná, Sara-Elvira and Petra grew up in three different places in Norway, Sweden and Finland. Nevertheless, they have much in common. All three have put their lives on hold to fight for the Sami future. While Elle Rávdná is sitting in the UN headquarters in New York, a message rang on her phone. Just a few weeks ago she was acquitted in the Oslo District Court. Now she risks being convicted anyway. – Are you not here, are you out in the world and now traveling again? Elle Rávdná Näkkäläjärvi (23) talks on the phone with her grandmother. She usually studies duodji in Enare, close to where the family has reindeer. But in the last year she has been traveling a lot. Campaigns, legal proceedings and political meetings have come before the study and reindeer husbandry. – Instead of getting involved, I could immerse myself in only duodji or reindeer herding, then my life would have been very different. She quickly pushes that thought away. For Elle Rávdná, it is not a choice. Over a year ago, young conservationists and Sámi took to Oslo’s streets. With banners and Sami flags, they campaigned for the human rights of the Fosen Sami. It was then 500 days since the reindeer owners on Fosen won in the Supreme Court, but little had happened. That is why they campaigned for the wind turbines on Fosen to be demolished, and the land to be returned to the reindeer herding Sami. After the actions, the wind developers and the reindeer owners at Fosen came up with a solution. Nevertheless, the case was not over for the campaigners. Just a month before Elle Rávdná traveled to the United States to discuss indigenous issues at the UN, she sat in the Oslo District Court. She and 17 other campaigners were prosecuted because they refused to pay the fines they received during the Fosen actions. All were acquitted, but shortly afterwards the verdict was appealed. That was the message Elle Rávdná received while she was in New York. – I had expected it, but I think it is unfair that the state does not accept that we won. She is still waiting for an answer on whether she will have to go to trial again. The Borgarting Court of Appeal writes in an e-mail to news that they cannot estimate when they will make the decision. While a verdict is at stake for her, Sara-Elvira fights developers who she fears will raze her home village. Sara-Elvira Kuhmunen (24) grew up in a reindeer herding family in Jokkmokk. She is part of Sweden’s largest reindeer herding district: Sirges. For over 10 years there have been plans for mining in the area. It will affect several grazing areas, including what Sara-Elvira belongs to. Both conservationists and reindeer owners have shown strong opposition to the plans. UN legal experts have also criticized the Swedish government for allowing mining in Kallak. Sara-Elvira was in primary school when the mine first became a topic. – It has always been a part of my childhood. I have always known that something like this could happen in Jokkmokk, and that it would go beyond our grazing land. Her family has worked with reindeer for several generations, but has not always lived in Jokkmokk. At the start of the 20th century, her ancestors were forcibly relocated. They had to make the choice between moving or selling their reindeer, because they were no longer allowed to have the reindeer in Norway in the summer. That’s why Sara-Elvira fights extra hard to take care of her home area. – They had to leave the only place they knew well, and came to a strange place. I think about what will happen if the green shift goes so far that we no longer have these lands, that we no longer recognize our own home. For Petra Laiti (28), getting involved is also a matter of course. She has done that since she was little. Petra grew up outside the Sami area. Already as a child, she got used to answering questions about the Sami. She got involved in a Sami youth organization to get to know other Sami. Since then, she has dedicated her time to Sami activism. But raising her voice has come at a cost. Some of the biggest Finnish media have featured Petra, but she has not always felt that it has been portrayed correctly. – I was quickly labeled as a hair cut or violated. I’ve experienced that I can’t say anything critical without someone ascribing feelings to me that I don’t really have. She was often harassed when she spoke out, but did not stop getting involved. In the past year, she has also traveled to Oslo several times to participate in the Fosen actions. There she saw again the importance of young Sámi meeting. At the same time, it became more important to her that young Sami people can meet without it being political. – The fact that we have places where Sami people can gather, share stories and have fun is one of the most important things our society can offer, says Petra. Youth phenomenon Mikkel Berg-Nordlie has followed the Fosen actions closely and testified as a historian during the trial against the activists in the Oslo district court. He says that there are several reasons why it is often young people who demonstrate. – Young people may have more time and opportunity to demonstrate, but this is not a good explanation: If it were that simple, the demonstration trains would be full of pensioners. Researcher at NIBR-Oslo Met Mikkel Berg-Nordlie explains that there are several reasons why it is often young people who are behind today’s protest movements. Photo: Johar Khalid / OsloMet Berg-Nordlie explains that young people often use other channels to influence, because they have less power in the traditional arenas. – Our time is characterized by many major crises that interfere with each other. Those who rule the world have made the future unsafe, and it is perhaps not so surprising that those who will live in that future try to influence through the channels they consider available, he says. Nils John Porsanger Activism An activist is a person who tries to achieve political change by putting pressure on politicians and the political system, according to Store norske lexikon. Activism has long been an important tool to influence and create social or political change. It can be through speeches, actions, strikes or other actions.Swipe to read about Sami activism Erik Thorberg / NTB Sami activismIn the 1970s, the authorities wanted to build a hydroelectric plant in the Alta River. This led to large demonstrations that received support from the whole country. Although the goal because the action was not reached, it is nevertheless considered to have been an important fight for nature and environmental protection, but also for Sami rights in Norway. Swipe to read more Rodrigo Freitas / NTB Fosen case Large protests in connection with the Fosen case in 2023 received a lot of attention. Several ministries were blocked, and during the first action, 13 of the protesters occupied the Ministry of Oil and Energy for almost four days. This eventually led to the government being forced to meet the protesters. Unity It’s no secret that campaigning can be tiring, but there are also good things to come with it. All three activists think so. – Everyone knows that it can be heavy and dark sometimes, but it is important that we have hope because it gives us our strength. In the photo, Sara-Elvira, Petra and Elle Rávdná are standing at the UN headquarters in New York. They have all been leaders of young Sámi. Photo: Maien Gaup Sandberg / news – We become like a family, the activists who work together. It helps a lot to be together and have fun, because otherwise it gets too dark, says Elle Rávdná. During the Fosen campaigns, they became well known, and she believes that will be useful in the future as well. – Our situations are slightly different, even though we belong to the same people. It is very important that we cooperate across national borders, because we saw during the Fosen actions that we are strongest when we stand together. As the academic year draws to a close, Elle Rávdná prepares for answers. Will there be a new trial or can she put the Fosen actions behind her? – It is a mental strain. It has been, and will be, a hard fight with the state going forward, she concludes. Hi! So nice that you’ve read the whole thing! Do you have any thoughts about the thing you just read, or tips for other things I should write about? 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Three Sami activists give everything for the future – news Sápmi
