The world’s fourth largest mining company Anglo American is conducting exploratory drillings in the same area in order to find nickel, copper, and gold deposits. Almost 100 people are working on samples and test drillings in the area.

The Canadian mining company First Quantum is also making exploratory drillings. The company is building a mine and an enrichment plant in Kevitsa, a good ten kilometres away from Kersilö.
The complex will cost EUR 250 million.
”The nickel and copper mine that is to be started early next year will employ nearly 300 people”, reports General Manager Reijo Uusitalo of the FQM Kevitsa Mining.

Both companies have lodged a claim application with the Finnish MInistry of Employment and the Economy in order to examine further the deposits in Sodankylä.
On the Finnish scale, the claim covers a huge area, namely roughly 400,000 hectares. In addition, four other foreign mining companies are prospecting for ore in Sodankylä.

”Sodankylä is a very promising area. We are searching for ore deposits in order that we could open one or several mines which could operate at least for the next 40 years”, says Director Jim Coppard from Anglo American, but he is unwilling to reveal any results.

Will reindeer herding face trouble when mining activities expand? Central Lapland is turning into a mining zone, stretching from Kolari through Kittilä to Sodankylä.
Kittilä is the home of Finland’s largest gold mine, while an iron ore mine is to be opened in Kolari. The industry is believed to employ at least 1,000 people in the next few years.
”Every night I wonder whether reindeer herding has any future”, says Pasi Salmi. ”The counterforce is so big that one could get depressed. Some good lichen areas were already lost under the Kevitsa mine. I wonder what Anglo American’s men will find”, Olli Pulju contemplates.

In Sodankylä, the number of reindeer owners is 578 and there are roughly 25,000 head of reindeer. The population is 8,002, which is one inhabitant more than last year.
”For the first time in 30 years, Sodankylä recorded a net migration gain. People are moving back from Southern Finland. A new apartment building is being constructed in the centre, and a new K-supermarket has been completed”, says Kauko Nurmela, the trade ombudsman of the municipality.

The mining boom can already be seen and heard. At the breakfast table in the Karhu Hotel in the centre, one can hear a buzz of English conversation. The hotel is fully booked.
All rental flats have also been reserved, even those located in remote villages, and there is a waiting list for the residences.

Today, the unemployment rate is 10 %, while in the 1990s it was as high as 32 %. Sodankylä has launched a housing programme, as on the western side of the municipality, the Swedish Lappland Goldminers is already operating the Pahtavaara gold mine, which employs more than 100 people.
”The atmosphere in Sodankylä is optimistic, as the unemployment rate has declined. I can see Kevitsa’s lights from the window of my home in Moskuvaara. I am only thinking about what will happen to the environment”, says Sini Veikanmaa, who goes to upper secondary school in Sodankylä.
Anglo American, operating in the Natura environmental protection area, has reported that it will take away all mud that comes up during drilling, while also recycling the waters of the drilling machine.
Veikko Virtanen, the chairman of the municipal board, believes that reindeer husbandry and mining can coexist in Sodankylä.

Source: Helsingin sanomat

Indistry Minister of Norway Trond Giske With Minerals Map of Northern Scandinavia. His governement has just announced a huge increase in funding to support the mining industry - Source adressa.no

So said, the Minister for Industry of Norway (Labour Party) while announcing a big increase in funding for mining exploration in the country in a story that appeared in Adressa.no

The Norwegian Geological Survey (NGU) believes there is a vast wealth of minerals and ore under the soil just waiting to be exploiting – only what holds them back is insufficient knowledge. That will soon change thanks to the Norwegian government announcing an extra 100 million NOK (ca. 17M USD)) over four years to searching for gold and other precious metals, mainly in northern Norway.

The first 25 million (4.3M USD) will come in next year’s budget, which is presented on Tuesday. This will represent a doubling of the Geological Survey currently receive for such work.

Giske acknowledged that as most of the deposits are in Northern Norway, this may lead to conflict with reindeer herders, but insisted that any conflict between reindeer herding and mining was “fully manageable”

Not according to Nils Henrik Sara, the leader of the Sami Reindeer Herders Association of Norway(NRL), in a reaction in NRK Sami Radio,

“It’s not as simple as the industry minister told Adresseavisen.  But of course for their enforcement system, it might be “manageable” because they do not account for what the reindeer industry says, and thus it is easy for them to get the reindeer industry to follow their terms “

The NRL leader clearly stated that their organization is against all mining in areas used by reindeer husbandry.

“NRL is against all who have an intention to destroy the industry’s reindeer pastures.  Mining destroys grazing for reindeer, and it can not be accepted by NRL”

“Let the treasure hunt begin” the Minister was quoted as saying in the news report…

The Canadian mining company Blackstone ventures has managed to buy the rights to start drilling in the Vindelfjällen nature reserve in the north of Sweden. The company is planning to drill right by one of the most ancient Sámi summer villages still inhabited every summer by the reindeer herders and reindeer  of Grans Sameby, the northernmost mountain Sami village in Västerbotten.

This story has been getting some coverage in the Swedish Sami media, most recently with this  story,  where it was reported that the Grans Sameby wanted  Blackstone to pay them 1.5 million SEK (215,000 USD) for the additional work and feed for reindeer because now Sami had to keep animals in enclosures and feed them artificially instead of free-grazing. Village leader, Tobias Jonsson says that they had several meetings with Blackstone, only when the company applied for exploration permits for areas Vindelvaggen 1-4, and Umeå lake. Then they had several consultations on the work plans, but the mining company Blackstone has been unwilling to listen to the Sami village’s views.

Helga Pedersen, deputy leader of the governing Labour Party was quoted as saying,

We are for mineral exploration in Inner Finnmark – But it’s not that we can say yes all, everywhere and at any price. We must also develop this industry and take account of the environment and to those on the plateau before (mining)

Here she is of course referring to the indigenous Sami, many of whom (especially reindeer herders) have been critical of the current ‘gold rush’ for minerals that is occurring in Finnmark. Surprisingly perhaps, Pedersen herself is of Sami ancestry and she has been a vigorous supporter of developing mining in the county. Legal researcher, Øyvind Ravna is quoted in the article as saying,

A charge should be introduced which would provide direct compensation to the  indigenous Sami people if they are  to accept such activities in their core areas

Ravna pointed to the activities of some mining ventures in Canada where First Nations are compensated directly for mining activity on their land. Pedersen is quick to rule out talk of compensation for mining for the Sami, which would be very unpopular among many Norwegian communities,

Meanwhile, in the regional media, the County Mayor of Finnmark is quoted as saying that people are getting angry that mining is being held up,

For far too long there has been talk of the great riches found in the county and how many jobs a new mining industry can provide. Now is the time that they should be realized otherwise people will become frustrated and eventually angry

Both Finnmark society and the Sami community is entirely dependent on new activity. If one is to preserve the culture and language we are going to have to have new jobs for the youth in the Sami villages. You can not save the Sami culture simply by having Sami kindergarten at Tøyen in Oslo and courses in communities with cafe lattes, it has to happen here,

You can read the rest of the article here on the Reindeer Portal

Area in question - Source: Blackstone Ventures

(Press Release, Saami Council) The Saami people say a mining project in Northeastern Sweden, proposed by a Canadian company, threatens their traditional way of life and violates their basic human rights, as recognized by the United Nations.

On 31 August 2009, Blackstone Ventures Inc., a Vancouver-based mining company, announced plans to begin test-drilling for minerals on pasture lands considered invaluable to the Saami people. In a press release, circulated in Canada the same date, Blackstone further announced its plans to mine in the disputed area (See this material here).  The Sammi communities have not agreed to such test-drillings. Furthermore, Saami community memebers do not recognize the company’s right to drill, noting that the company does not hold the relevant permits to drill and lacks a work-plan, approved by the reindeer herders.

“This is the heart of our land,” says Marja Skum, a spokesperson for the communities. “This is where the reindeer come to calf, and where they find the richest pasture.  Our forefathers have lived with the reindeers on these mountains since time immemorial.  We are determined to pass the legacy on to the next generations.  Therefore, we have no choice but to do everything we can to stop this mine.  If a mine is established in the planned area, we will no longer be traditional reindeer herders.  We will lose the most vital part of our identity.”

Saami organizations are making it a priority to assist the impacted communities and representative say they will fight the project.  Anders Blom is the Director of the Swedish Saami Association (SSR), an umbrella organization with Saami reindeer herding communities and Saami associations in Sweden as members.

“As a nomadic people, reindeer herders roam their reindeer over vast areas,” says Blom.  Some of these areas are interchangeable. But Blackstone has picked the absolute worst place to prospect.  The planned mine is in an area that the communities can simply not replace.  That is why we will assist the communities to the best of our ability to stop this project.”

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has repeatedly affirmed that reindeer husbandry constitutes a fundament in the Saami people’s culture, and is integral to Saami individuals’ cultural identity.  Hence, no industrial activities are allowed in Saami areas where such activities render it impossible, or significantly more difficult, for Saami communities to pursue reindeer husbandry.

Mattias Åhrén is the President of the Saami Council, an organization representing the Saami in e.g. international affairs.

“Blackstone’s planned mine would essentially prevent the impacted communities from pursuing traditional Saami reindeer herding, says Åhrén . “Thus, it would be detrimental to the reindeer herders’ cultural identity.  As a consequence, the mine is illegal as it would violate the reindeer herders’ right to culture.  We are positive that international bodies will halt the project.  We will use all legal means available to stop the plans for a mine in the area”

The Saami people are indigenous to northern Europe, as the Canadian tribes are indigenous peoples in Canada.  The Saami have pursued nomadic reindeer husbandry in its traditional areas since time immemorial.  They have inhabited their traditional land since well before other populations colonized their territories.  Gran, Ran and Ubmeje are three Saami reindeer herding communities whose traditional pasture lands cover parts of Northern Sweden.

For further information, contact Marja Skum, +47 47 25 11 68, Mattias Åhrén, +47 47 37 91 61 or Anders Blom, +46 70 51 44 480

Для оленеводов, охотников и рыбаков планируется закупить 155 комплектов спутниковой связи, построить две фактории и несколько промежуточных баз и опорных пунктов с холодильниками для хранения продукции. В следующем году в Ямальском районе благодаря средствам, выделенным в рамках компенсационных мер, появятся девять коралей для содержания и выпаса оленей. А этой осенью на фактории Лидино появится новая пекарня и заработает современное холодильное оборудование. Более ста миллионов рублей газовики решили потратить на то, чтобы достроить рыбоприемный пункт с отделением заморозки рыбы на пятьдесят тонн в сутки в селе Новый Порт.

Программа компенсационных мероприятий рассчитана до 2011 года. За это время ООО «Газпром добыча Надым» израсходует на строительство самых различных объектов для местного населения 7 млрд. 12 млн 350 тыс. рублей.

Источник

Muonio sameby oroas över planerad gruvverksamhet /Read the full story here

This is Norway’s largest copper find…We’re talking about billions. With today’s prices, we have found values of between eight and ten billion kroner (1.25 bn Euros)

Other materials in a 6 kilometre ridge include platinum, silver and gold. Nilsen told Finnnmark Dagblad said Nussir ASA intends to apply for permission to extract the minerals and if successful, production might start in year 2011, he adds. This is an area of reindeer husbandry and herders have already expressed their concerns about mining activity, as reported in the Reindeer Blog and in NRK, where herder Berit Kristine Hætta stated that reindeer need peace in this area after calving, a claim questioned by a Nussir spokesperson.

Meanwhile, in Karasjok, Store Norsk Gull are drilling 15 test holes (in their search for gold) in Ráitevárri and Rivkkaoggi (the heart of the winter pastures in this area) and reindeer herders are not happy about it, as reported in NRK yesterday.

In a letter to the Områdestyret for East Finnmark reindeer herders Lars Larsen Anti, Marit Kirsten Anti Gaup og Samuel John L. Anti wrote that the company has made no attempt to dialogue with them

This has not happened, and, therefore, we require full stop of the business until Store Norske Gold have met with us and clarified their activities in the area. We demand direct negotiations and clarification from the company.

The reindeer herders are considering engaging a lawyer if activities are not halted.

Reindeer herder Mikkel Nils A. Sara stressed that reindeer herders were not against development…

We have already lost areas, We are here every summer, and about 100 people are involved..one third of people have already left reindeer husbandry. Cabin building for example, has meant that we have to give away areas. We believe that we can coexist with mining but it needs to be fair and we have to look at the consequences of encroachment. We want to have a future in reindeer husbandry.

Original story from NRK Sami Radio.