Understanding the Cultural Impact and Issues of Lapland Mining:A Long-Term Perspective on Sustainable Mining Policies in the North

Vesa-Pekka Herva (PI)1, Hannu I. Heikkinen1, Teresa Komu1, Magdalena Naum1, Jonas Nordin2, Risto Nurmi1, Carl-Gösta Ojala2,Simo Sarkki11University of Oulu, 2Uppsala University

AIMThis project studies the history, material aspects and heritage ofmining in Lapland/Sápmi and connects it to current issuessurrounding mineral extraction in the region. Grounded in thehumanities and social sciences the project addresses the complexcultural impact of mining and associated developments using a long-term perspective.

BACKGROUNDMining in Lapland/Sápmi is controversial and entangled with broaderissues such as nature preservation, economic development andindigenous rights. The frictions over mining largely reflect diverseinterests and modes of engaging with northern environments andunbalanced relationships between the stakeholders. These tensionsdate back to the 17th century and are intertwined with the colonialpast of Lapland/Sápmi.

Mining is often considered in narrow techno-economic terms,whereas this project studies it as a socio-cultural phenomenon. Theresearch analyzes the development and implications of mining inconjunction with a series of reforms and policies imposed since theearly modern period. Historical mining and its cultural heritage isstudied against that broader background and in terms of interactionsbetween people, material culture, infrastructures and environments.

The discovery ofsilver in Nasafjäll in1634 and theestablishment ofsilverworks inSilbojokk spurred asystematic search forores and otherresources inLapland.

Since the antiquity Laplandwas portrayed in ambivalentterms as an unforgivinghomeland of ‘barbaric’ Samiand as a land of plenty,unspoiled beauty and abackdrop of harmonious ifsimple life. Early modernstate regarded the North asa source of untapped wealth,which in order to beexploited, needed to bemeasured, mapped, reformedand brought to civility.

Mining plans meet with protests as wellas approval

REASERCH DESIGNThe research is structured around four interlinked questions and workpackages:

• Historical and socio-cultural contextualization of Lapland mining (studyof early modern perception of Lapland/Sápmi and reasoning that fuelledmining and modernization projects in the region; study of attitudestowards the environment espoused by various actors)

• Analysis of mining complexes in their environmental and culturalcontext (study of the infrastructure, planning, social and culturalarrangements at the specific mining and work sites as well as responsesto and impact of mining on the local communities)

• Study of everyday material culture (assessment of the impact of miningand modernization on the level of everyday life)

• Connecting the past and present: the cultural heritage of mining (studyof the local communities’ perception of mining heritage and perspectiveson contemporary mining)

Mining heritage can be used in negotiatingsocial license to operate as in case ofSvappavaara, where mining projects arewelcomed due to economic boost and jobsthey bring.

EXPECTED RESULTSA long-term perspective contextualizes and provides a new perspectiveon current issues around Lapland mining. This historical perspective willallow us to assess how contemporary policies reflect and reproducecolonial attitudes in advancing a certain style of argument andjustification of mineral extraction and landscape use marginalizing localconcerns and knowledge. This has important implications for thedevelopment of socially sustainable and culturally and socially sensitivepolicies of natural resource utilization.

Colonial history, marginalization of localconcerns, past mining disasters andindustrial barrens can contribute tonegative attitudes towards mining