Polar Pod

Herders under pressure: climate, mining and justice in Samiland

March 27, 2023 Oxford University Polar Forum Season 2 Episode 1
Polar Pod
Herders under pressure: climate, mining and justice in Samiland
Show Notes

Oula-Antti Labba spent much of his childhood in Finnish Sámiland helping his family with the traditional reindeer herding work. But this traditional livelihood is under dual threat: from climate change and industrialisation of Sámi lands. After experiencing "the lack of respecting indigenous rights" that accompanied permits for mining being granted without the consent of local communities, he decided to pursue a career in law to stand up for Sámi people--and indigenous people worldwide. 

While mining is not new in northern Scandinavia, much of the new exploration work is oriented towards finding critical minerals for the energy transition. Which means that, paradoxically, Sámi reindeer herders find themselves under threat from both climate change and our solutions to that problem. 

Join us as we navigate between reindeer herds, underground mines and the international courts, and ask--with the help of two economic geologists--what a brighter future could look like for Sámi communities, and how we might get there in the context of immense pressures.

Guests on the show:
Oula-Antti Labba, Sámi Council (now Ministry of Justice, Finland)
Postdoctoral researchers Anna Bidgood and Phil Rieger, from iCRAG, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre in Applied Geosciences hosted by University College Dublin.
Charlotte Chamberlain, University of Oxford (and producer on this show)

Polar Pod team:
Sam Cornish (reporting, editing, mixing, original music)
Roberta Wilkinson (co-host)
Charlotte Chamberlain (producer)
Jihad Zgheib (sound design)