Swedish mining company’s reservation of areas in Inari worries Sámi Parliament’s Vice-President: “A serious threat”
The Swedish mining company Arctic Minerals Explorations AB has submitted several reservation notifications that concern areas in the municipalities of Inari and Sodankylä in Northern Finland. Members of the Sámi Parliament and the Ivalo Reindeer-Herding Cooperative fear the worst, but the Chair of the Municipal Council of Inari is not worried about the news.
By Sara Kelemeny and Linda Tammela
The Swedish mining company Arctic Minerals Explorations AB has submitted several reservation notifications in the municipalities of Inari and Sodankylä in order to gain priority for submitting an exploration permit. The company is confident that they will find several minerals in the area, referring to exploration of gold, nickel and copper, for instance, in its application. The applications will be dealt with during this autumn.
The members of the Sámi Parliament have mixed feelings about the information of the company’s reservation notifications that cover over 3,000 square kilometres.
“That’s a serious threat to everyone and everything here. It will require and take a lot of strength from us,” says Sámi Parliament’s Vice-Chair Leo Aikio, shocked by the news.
Aikio refers to the impact of possible mining on nature, wildlife and traditional livelihoods such as reindeer herding in the area.
“Mining has extremely far-reaching consequences that will have an immediate impact on all the river systems and fish stocks here,” Aikio says.
According to Aikio, the Sámi Parliament did not know about the applications of the mining company in advance; they got the information as a surprise through the media.
