Transcript 3.8 MB - arcus

Arctic Indigenous Peoples Facing
Climate Change – A Saami
Perspective
By Rune Fjellheim
Head of Arctic & Environmental Unit
Saami Council
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
An indigenous people of
the Arctic
• The Sámi are one of
some 40+ Arctic
indigenous peoples
• Some other indigenous
peoples are the Inuit in
the West and
Nenets/Komis In the
East
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
One people in four countries
• The Sámi live in four
national states
• Common language,
culture and traditions
• Common Sámi flag,
national day and
national anthem
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
The Sámis’ settlement area
• From the Kola
peninsula in the
northeast to Engerdal
in South Norway
• A minority in numbers
in all four national
states
• The Sámis are in the
majority in parts of
Norway, Sweden and
Finland
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
The flag
• Sámi Conference 1986
• Designed by Astrid Båhl
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
Sámediggi Plenary Session
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
Sámediggi building
• Officially opened 2 Nov.
2000
• 5 300 square metres
• NOK 126 million
• Architects Stein Halvorsen
and Christian Sunby
• Norwegian State
Architecture Prize 2001
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
Climate Change is here
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
Sámi observations
Our income diminishes because of climate
change, of course,and in a very drastic way.
Even my wife has said that it would be time to
forget the 33 reindeer. But I tell her always:
“Tamara, we depend on these reindeer. If there
are no reindeer, we have nothing to do here
either.”
Vladimir Lifov, Lovozero, russian Sámi
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
Sámi observations cont....
“Temperatures used to be well below freezing in autumn
and winter came when it was supposed to. It was not
mild autumn like now. It used to be longer, snow would
fall. Now sleet and rain will fall. Summers used to be to
the ‘standard form,’ this means that fair weather would
stay longer. We would have the reindeers in the big fell
areas because especially the beginning of the summer
would be very hot. Insects would be there as well with
the reindeers. Now this has changed. The summers are
very unstable. Reindeer are staying in the forests now,
they do not go up to the fells any more.”
Heikki Hirvasvuopio, finnish Sámi
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
Sámi observations cont....
“especially the ground birds, we could be talking about
almost extermination when compared to the previous
amounts. I used to hunt quite much them alongside
reindeer herding before so I have a good idea of the
stocks. We cannot even talk about the same amounts
during the same day. This affects especially ptarmigans,
capercaillie, and ground birds. With small singing birds,
the same trend is visible. Nowadays it is silent in the
forest – they do not sing in the same way anymore. It
used to be that your ears would get blocked as the
singing was so powerful before. They have disappeared
completely as well.”
Heikki Hirvasvuopi, finnish Sámi, Kakslauttanen Finland
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
Short Term Challenges
“Adapt Now!”
Prepare for Escalated Exploitation
Manage the new unpredictable weather
Document Traditional Knowledge
Communicate Climate Change
Knowledge
6. Address the Cause of Climate Change
Now
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
The “Positive Effects”
• Reduced sea ice is very likely to increase marine
transport and access to resources
– The continuing reduction of sea ice is very likely to lengthen
the navigation season and increase marine access to the
Arctic’s natural resources.
– Seasonal opening of the Northern Sea Route is likely to
make trans-Arctic shipping during summer feasible within
several decades. Increasing ice movement in some
channels of the Northwest Passage could initiallymake
shipping more difficult.
– Reduced sea ice is likely to allow increased offshore
extraction of oil and gas, although increasing ice movement
could hinder some operations.
– Sovereignty, security, and safety issues, as well as social,
cultural, and environmental concerns are likely to arise as
marine access increases
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
Access to Resources
• 40% of the world’s remaining Oil & Gas –
resources are in the Arctic
• Minerals
• Forests
• Fish
• Rivers
• .......
• Transportation – Northern Sea Route
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
Preconditions for Success
• Fundamental Recognition of
Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
• Partnership between Indigenous
Peoples, Governments, Academia,
NGOs and Industry
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
Shift in population
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
Self Government –
a tool for improving health
• Studies of 195 First Nations in Canada
showed a decrease in adolescent suicide
rates with an increase in self-government.
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
Redefining the Arctic
• Homeland
• Land of discovery
• Magnet for cultural emissaries
• Storehouse of resources
• Theater for military operations
• Environmental linchpin
• The scientific Arctic
• Destination for adventure travelers
• The Arctic of the imagination
Arctic Human Development Report
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
The Arctic a Net Exporter of Wealth
• The Arctic is a net exporter of wealth. Still it’s
being described as an over subsidized and
underdeveloped wilderness that is constantly
relying on transfer payments.
• There is a strong link between empowerment of
peoples, fair distribution of wealth created from
their lands thus establishing viable and resilient
cultures/societies participating on an equal
footing in the development of resources.
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim
No Rights
=
No Access
ARCUS 20.05.2005 – Rune Fjellheim