Sweden’s Rare-Earth Mining Threatens Sami Reindeer Herding

High atop the Luossavaara Mountain in northern Sweden, local Sami reindeer herder Lars-Marcus Kuhmunen faces an uncertain future. Plans for a new rare-earth mineral mine threaten to disrupt the traditional migration routes essential to the Sami way of life. This situation unfolds in the context of a warming Arctic, which is impacting reindeer herding practices at an alarming rate.

The proposed mine, located at the Per Geijer deposit, is being touted as Europe’s largest. If developed, Kuhmunen warns it could completely sever the migration paths currently used by the Sami village of Gabna. He explains that these routes have been integral to their culture for generations: “The reindeer is the fundamental base of the Sami culture in Sweden. If that ceases to exist, the Sami culture will also cease to exist.”

The Sami people, who are descended from a once-nomadic group spread across northern regions of Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Russia, have faced historical challenges. Until the 1960s, their herding practices were actively discouraged, and both the church and state suppressed their language and traditions. Today, approximately 20,000 individuals in Sweden identify as Sami, although an official count is not available as ethnicity-based censuses are prohibited.

Kuhmunen oversees a herd of about 2,500 to 3,000 reindeer, supported by a team of 15 to 20 herders. Their operations are under increasing pressure from the expanding Kiirunavaara mine, the world’s largest underground iron-ore site. This mine has already forced the Gabna herders to navigate longer and more arduous migration routes, which further jeopardizes the health of their reindeer.

Swedish officials and LKAB, the state-owned mining company, argue that the Per Geijer mine could significantly reduce Europe’s reliance on imported rare-earth minerals from countries like China. These minerals are crucial for various technologies, including smartphones and electric vehicles, and are vital for the transition to renewable energy.

Despite the potential economic benefits, Kuhmunen expresses deep concern about the impact on his community. He notes that if the mine goes ahead, there would be no alternative routes for the Gabna herders to take their reindeer to winter grazing pastures filled with nutrient-rich lichen. “It’s really difficult to fight a mine,” he laments, pointing out the vast resources and financial power of mining companies compared to the limited means of the Sami. “We only have our will to exist.”

In response to these challenges, Darren Wilson, LKAB’s senior vice president of special products, acknowledged the need for dialogue with the Sami community. He stated, “There are potential things that we can do and we can explore,” while recognizing the inherent challenges in balancing mining activities with Indigenous rights.

Climate change adds another layer of complexity to the situation. As Anna Skarin, a professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, explains, winter rain has increasingly replaced snow in Swedish Lapland, causing lichen to become trapped under ice and inaccessible to the reindeer. In the summer months, higher temperatures make it difficult for reindeer to graze effectively, impacting their overall health and sustainability.

Some have suggested transporting reindeer by truck between grazing lands if the mine is constructed. However, Skarin argues that this solution is impractical. Reindeer depend on continuous movement to access food, and relocating them would deprive them of the necessary foraging opportunities along their traditional routes. “You would take away the migration route that they have used traditionally over hundreds and thousands of years,” she stated.

For Kuhmunen and his fellow herders, the looming threat of the mine represents not just a practical challenge but an existential one. “How can you tell your people that what we’re doing now will cease to exist in the near future?” he asks, highlighting the urgency of their plight. As the Sami community prepares to contest the mine’s development in court, the outcome remains uncertain.

The ongoing struggle between development and Indigenous rights in northern Sweden underscores a broader global debate about resource extraction and its impact on Indigenous communities. As the world shifts its focus towards sustainable energy, the balance of preserving cultural identities while meeting economic demands continues to pose significant challenges.