Ett samtal med Rickard Länta

Renskötsel, industrier, och klimat

Abstract

Rickard Länta is a reindeer herder in Jåhkågasska reindeer herding community in the Swedish part of Sápmi. The land in which his reindeer are migrating has already been impacted by projects such as deforestation, hydropower, infrastructure development, and tourism. In addition, the controversial Gállok mining project, which is also located in this land, has now been approved by the Swedish government and supreme court. This article builds on a conversation in which Rickard describes the consequences of a potential mine in relation to the existing threats that are already severely challenging the conditions for reindeer herding. He also discusses how these industrial ventures relate to the overarching issue of climate change and its impacts for reindeer herding.