JOSEFINA SKERK on Sámi Lifeways /254

An aerial view of reindeer running through a snow covered northern tundra-forest; by Vladimir Melnikov.

When one thinks about iron, copper, and gold mining, Sweden is not the first place that comes to mind, but in the past few years the country has granted roughly 500 mining exploration permits as it positions itself to become one of the largest mining centers for all of Europe. The price of mining in Sweden has largely been paid by the Sámi, whose lifeways are permanently changed once the government and multinational corporations seek to extract so-called natural resources from their traditional territory of Sápmi. In this week’s episode, we look at extractive mining in Sápmi and how Sweden’s colonial government exploits their very limited definition of Sámi indigeneity to further land grabs and resource extraction with guest Josefina Skerk. 

We begin our conversation in reverence for the sights, smells, and sounds of this vast ancestral territory that is now known as being a part of Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. Guiding us through these living libraries, Josefina shares her vision for truly sustainable living, what climate change means for Sámi livelihoods, the ways in which many Europeans have severed themselves from Indigenous histories both willfully and forcibly, and the importance of reconciliation processes across the Nordic region.

“[The land] is our library.”

— Josefina Skerk / Episode 254

Photo of Josefina Skerk by Jon Orlando

Josefina Skerk is a Sámi politician with a background in law. She is the General Manager of Sijti Jarnge, a Sámi Language and Culture Centre in Norway. Skerk has been a member of the Sámi Parliament in Sweden since 2013, and has held office as its former Vice President. Indigenous rights, especially connecting to land and language rights, are key issues that she is passionate about. Her work involves highlighting the diversity of the Sámi People and striving for Human and Indigenous Rights for all Sámi, regardless of gender, sexuality, disability, or cultural background.

♫ The music featured in this episode is “Creek Song” by Andy Tallent, “Sleep Well” by Dana Anastasia, and “The Grieving Hour” by West of Roan.

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