| Elections in Norway – Where do the Parties Stand on Reindeer Husbandry? |
| Written by Philip Burgess |
| Wednesday, 07 October 2009 19:13 |
On September 14th, people in Norway will go to the polls – for the national elections, for the Sami Parliament elections and the municipality and regional elections. As a result, the Norwegian media has been full of little else, these last few weeks. NRK Sami Radio ran a piece recently that asked where all [...]
Arbeiderpartiet: “Labor Party’s vision for the reindeer policy based on security for the reindeer herding Saami community, and that those who are engaged in reindeer will be able to support himself by it. Reindeer herding is an industry that is strongly linked to the Sami culture. In many parts of the country are reindeer herders considered the very backbone and the identity of the Sami culture. The reindeer will also in future be an essential part of Sami industry structure. This means that the community takes responsibility to protect grazing land from encroachment that destroys the basis for the reindeer’s existence. “ Árja: “In consultation and through cooperation with reindeer herding (in Sami called verddevuohta) work to find solutions that promote all forms of Sami industries and combined use as equal rights holders. • Working on how the Reindeer Act’s provisions for multi-use conflicts should be changed so that they better take into account others than just reindeer herding Sami rights holders. Høyre: “Reindeer husbandry is a special Sami industry that is regulated by separate legislation. We will continue to develop reindeer herding and speed up work on a comprehensive revision of the Reindeer Husbandry Act. In this context, Høyre consider changing its departmental affiliation, and move reindeer management from the agriculture ministry to another industrial ministry. By the revision of the Reindeer Act will allow Høyre the tools to change the necessary regulations, so that additional sanctions measures and retrenchment from the government side would not be necessary. Flytttsamelista. This party, which represents migratory Sami reindeer herders, unsurprisingly has the most detailed programme for reindeer husbandry. You can download it here: 1.6754604!Flyttsamelista
Fremskrittspartiet: “Managing the reindeer as other business activities. The industry should be exercised as freely as possible, and public responsibility should be limited to a reasonable stewardship of public grazing lands.”
Norske Samers Riksforbund: “NSR will strengthen and develop primary industries, agriculture, herding, fishing, nature-based industries and duodji, and combinations thereof. This will be done through the input to the central negotiations in agriculture and herding, and the priorities of the Sami Parliament to the industry, as well as value added application for the combination of industries. “ NSR will work in the Sami Parliament that:
Samenes Folkeforbund: “The Sami People’s Association will work for a reindeer industry that is in balance with nature. A small part of the Sami people in the country are involved in reindeer herding, and this is an industry that is very heavy on land in some areas. The Sami Parliament needs to be given greater decision-making authority within the reindeer herding. The Reindeer herding industry utilizes resources that would otherwise not be exploited by others and must be adapted to today’s resource base. Coordination with other sectors is important for the future of reindeer husbandry. “
Senterpartiet: “The Center Party aims to develop the primary industries within nature’s carrying capacity so that new generations are given the opportunity for income and food ensured that recruitment for the future. Reindeer herding has an important significance for strengthening and preservation of the Sami language and culture. Women and youth must be given the right to an independent economic basis for the reindeer herders. Ofelaš: “Ofelaš believes that the Sami Parliament is not ready to manage reindeer herding. The Sami Parliament does not have enough resources to take over the management of reindeer herding. Nordkalottfolket: “Reindeer industry has, as the only Sami wilderness activities, been given strong protection and good framework conditions through their own legislation. This is important and appropriate. However, some parts of the legislation are out of balance with the rest of Sami business, and substantially hinder the development of other business and development. At the same time it is weak in relation to legal protection within the reindeer herding. We do not know today what consequences the Samerettsutvalget II will be bring as changes in reindeer herding. Other wilderness industries must be given the same framework. Other Sami and Norwegian businesses in the northern areas are also important to maintain the settlement areas. A sustainable industrial development must be based on innovation and modernization, with environmental, economic and social conditions as supporting elements. “ Posted: 2009-09-04 15:30:30 Related Articles/Posts Norway, Sami Parliament |
