The article discusses the environmental crisis in Lapland faced by the Inarisami people, focusing on the challenges posed to their culture and way of life due to climate change and resource exploitation.
The article highlights the severe environmental crisis unfolding in Lapland, particularly affecting the Inarisami people, a group of indigenous Sámi in Finland. Activist Anna Morottaja explains how climate change and resource extraction have disrupted their traditional practices. She observes that the natural changes in weather patterns have resulted in dampness that affects their firewood storage and results in spoiled reindeer hides, which are essential for their traditional winter footwear, showing a direct impact on their cultural heritage.
Morottaja’s statements reflect a deep concern amongst the Inarisami regarding the changing state of nature, which they have relied on for generations. Previously, their reindeer hides would dry solidly and securely, but now they are affected by mold and discoloration—signs of a broader environmental decline. This degradation not only affects their livestock and materials for traditional clothing but also threatens their identity and relationship with their natural surroundings.
The implications of these observations extend beyond personal anecdotes; they call attention to a pressing environmental issue that intersects with socio-cultural elements, emphasizing the urgent need for ecological protection. Morottaja's declaration of 'ecocide' as a crime underscores the responsibility to protect indigenous rights and the environment, suggesting that neglecting these crises could lead to irreversible changes in both culture and ecosystem in Lapland.
