Who has the right to land and water?
In some places, the pressure is so strong that it affects the right of public access.
The County Administrative Board pulls the emergency brake because animals and nature take a beating.
It does not get easier
I myself have been monitoring the conflicts over land and water rights for many years.
It does not get easier.
The Girjas judgment is of course a legal guideline.
The lawsuit is part of a long Sami legal battle.
The ruling is an important success for the Sami legal struggle, but not a completely uncomplicated one.
Ask who shares
It is also a polarized issue.
We have met people for whom this issue is the biggest in their lives.
Whether it is hunters, reindeer herders, outdoor people or entrepreneurs - the connection to nature means everything and they are prepared to fight for it.
At the same time, there are those who barely know that this is an infected issue.
Maybe you go to the mountains and increase your quality of life for a while.
Maybe just this period, the glorious spring winter.
But it is also the time when the wires are pregnant and sensitive to stress.
An important time for reindeer husbandry.
A matter of the heart for many reindeer owners.
A stressed reindeer can shed its fetus, far too soon.
Now some get up and put the coffee in their throats.
They think that the reindeer herding industry takes up too much space.
Polarized question.
It's worse if we're quiet
Why then do we choose to examine this and highlight the conflicts.
Do we not risk polarizing the issue further?
Perhaps.
But it is much worse if we are silent.
Because if we raise the problems, try to dive into the difficult, point to it, turn it around, then hopefully the understanding of the conflict and the different areas of interest will increase and above all we will increase the knowledge and perhaps also the solutions.
I believe that understanding, will, compromises and knowledge will be required for us to be able to share nature.
I prefer to ride a chairlift
But if I go to myself, how was it before?
My family did not have a scooter when I was growing up but I am quite happy when I can use the scooter to be able to enjoy our nature.
Avoid peat with skis and heavy sledges.
In the simple example there is also some of the complexity.
I also prefer to ride a chairlift or cabin lift than walk or ride a trailer lift.
It is also fun to cycle in our nature and I am not alone.
We want to be and we are encouraged to be outdoor people.
It is so healthy and invigorating in the mountains.
But we are many and we are drawn to the same places.
So what do we do now?