– At the previous border increase in 2000, an islet was Norwegian before the increase, but which became Finnish afterwards, Anders Østeraas from the Mapping Authority tells news. He stands with colleagues from the border commissions from Norway, Sweden and Finland at Treriksrøysa. Just by the lake Kilpisjärvi, the national borders of the countries meet. Every 25 years, the countries increase the national border, and it was after the surveys in 2000 that Norway had to cede land to Finland. This border crossing between Norway and Finland is to be completed in 2025. The tone is light and exuberant between the Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish representatives who have all recently also become NATO allies. TRERIKSRØYSA: This is the border point between Norway, Sweden and Finland. Treriksrøysa was built in 1897. Photo: EILIF ASLAKSEN / news Anita Horvei from the Mapping Authority is the chief border commissioner. She greatly appreciates the good neighbourliness. – And to meet here, especially in these times with many things happening in the world, it is incredibly important to have an open and good dialogue between our three Nordic countries, she says. – I have no boundaries Over the same boundaries at Treriksrøysa, Per-Olof Nutti moves with his reindeer herd. In the summer he is on the Norwegian side in Nord-Troms, and in the winter the animals are on the Swedish side in Karesuando. – I am in Sápmi, and I have no boundaries, he says to news. SÁPMI: Per-Olof Nutti is a Swedish citizen, but lives in Norway during the summer with his reindeer herd. Photo: EILIF ASLAKSEN / news A 271-year-old agreement is one of the reasons why Nutti can freely cross the national border. In 1751 when the new border was decided, Norway was part of Denmark, while Finland was under Swedish rule. The states took into account the Sami’s use of these areas. Therefore, they made rules that would ensure this use, regardless of which side of the national border the Sámi lived. The Patch Codicil was called the rules, and was an addition to the border agreement. Fear that the Sámi could creep in. Historian Steinar Pedersen has written his doctoral thesis on the special rules. He says the Lappecodicil has never been terminated and that it is still in force. According to the historian, the codicil is the first document in which the Sami’s rights are officially recognized by the nation states. – As the legal experts of the time wrote about the Sami’s reindeer migrations; “from one Kingdom to the other is quite necessary for the Lappish Nations Conservation, and the largest part of the Lapps had to necessarily creep, when they were to be connected to remain permanently, either on the Norwegian or on the Swedish side of Fieldkiølen.”. The nation-states of the time therefore feared that the Sami could retreat if they were hindered by the new border. EUROPE’S OLDEST NATIONAL BORDER: Historian Steinar Pedersen has researched the almost 300-year-old border agreements in the north. The 1751 national border is one of the oldest in Europe according to the historian. Photo: EILIF ASLAKSEN / news Russia conquers Finland by force of arms Like today, Russia was involved in wars in Europe. In 1809, the Russian Tsar announced that he would conquer Finland by force of arms from the Swedes. The situation was to worsen. Norway had ended up under Swedish rule, while Finland had therefore become part of Russia. The disagreements led to the northernmost border being closed on 15 September 1852. – The border closure 170 years ago is probably one of the most dramatic negative events for reindeer herding on the Nordkalotten ever, says historian Steinar Pedersen. The reindeer-herding Sami lost their reindeer pastures on the Finnish side, and the Sami who lived on the Finnish side lost their lands on the coast of Finnmark. Many were therefore forced to quit, and this led to hunger and poverty. Finland wanted to give land to Norway After only a few years of closed borders, an unexpected offer came from Finland. The Finnish authorities wanted the reindeer-herding Sami to once again be able to use the coastal areas in Finnmark. The Finns even wanted to give their northernmost area to Norway. But the Swedish-Norwegian authorities in Stockholm and Christiania refused. 1751-BORDER: The border between Norway and Finland has existed for 271 years (blue line), and is 736 km long. The red line marks the area Finland was willing to cede to Norway in 1859. – One of the main reasons why Norway and Sweden said no, was that they had brought migration under control because not as many as before came to the coast anymore, says Steinar Pedersen. At the same time, immigration from the south had increased in scope, and with fewer reindeer-herding Sami on the coast, there was better room for, among other things, agriculture for the Norwegian immigrants in the mid-19th century, according to the historian. – What happened in 1859 was what today can really be called “top secret”. Even in our time, the offer from Finland is relatively unknown. If Norway had said yes, the border could have gone somewhere else and Norway would have been much bigger, says Steinar Pedersen. – We use you as role models 271 years after the border divided the Sami people into different nation states, officials and the Sami meet. MEET: Anita Horvei from the Mapping Authority and Per-Olof Nutti from Sápmi meet. Photo: Nils John Porsanger / news At Treriksrøysa, the Norwegian High Border Commissioner Anita Horvei greets reindeer herding Sami Per-Olof Nutti. – You are welcome here for a visit, Nutti says kindly. Horvei replies that the good neighborliness and relationship between the people in the north can also be attributed to the Sami people. – I hope we can use the Sami as role models for the fact that in a way we are all Scandinavians and should stand together. We will take note of you. We use you as role models, she says. BORDER EXAMINATION: The border between Norway and Finland is examined every 25 years. This border mark in the Tana valley is the northernmost point of Finland. Photo: Eilif Aslaksen / news
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Norway could have been much bigger in the north – news Sápmi
