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| Sami Reindeer Pastoralism as an Indigenous Resource Management System in Northern Norway |
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Reference |
| Bjorklund, Ivar: " Sami Reindeer Pastoralism as an Indigenous Resource Management System in Northern Norway: A Contribution to the Common Property Debate.", Development and Change, vol. 21, pp.75-86, Sage, London, Newbury Park, New Delhi, 1991. |
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Introduction to the Institution |
| Sami's are reindeer pastoralists living in the Finnmark, a territory including northern parts of Sweden, Finland and Norway. Domistication of reindeer is at least one thousand years old, and as a pastoral adaptation, reindeer herding is reported since the 16th century. Generally, herds are moved around in a cycle according to seasonal pasture conditions. |
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Coverage of the Institution |
| The institution is generally used among Sami's in the Finnmark. The institution is concurrent. |
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Rules for Management
of the Institution |
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(a) Boundary Rules |
| SOCIAL BOUNDARIES: Members of the "Siida" (see below).
SPATIAL BOUNDARIES: Gouvdageaidnu area of Northern Norway, Finland and Sweden. National borders restrict the movements of the herds but specific rules for crossing the border between Norway and Sweden has been made in an internal agreement between the governments the two countries. |
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(b) Governance
rules |
| Herdowners are organized in "Siida's", cooperations organized through kith relations (Possibly a Clan). The members of the "Siida" lives and migrates together and they will organize the grazing of reindeer herds throughout a year. |
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(c) Resource Allocation |
| Typically a Siida will regroup three times during a year in accordance with grazing conditions. In the summer reindeer will be gathered in large herds, splitting up in medium size herds for the winter and smaller herds during spring. As a general principle, the herd size should not exceed the carrying capacity of the grazing area. If it occurs, individual owners will withdraw their animals from the common herd and join other herding units according to kinship relations and available pastures. |
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Conflict Resolution Mechanism |
| Regrouping can involve harsh competition within the "Siida". (Further details not mentioned.) |
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Problems Faced by Institution |
| Government intervention: Governments in Norway and Sweden are trying to intervene in the Sami resource management system by regulating the number of reindeer in the herds. Governments have consulted biologists to make appraisals of the carrying capacity of the pasturelands. Biologists recommended that the number of reindeer was regulated in order to prevent overgrazing. But the analysis of biologists tend to be based on the direct relationship between land and animal, not taking the mediating role of the herdowners, viz. their ability to move the herds between pasturelands to prevent overgrazing, into account - although individuals control of animals is presupposed in Sami pasture management. Thus, governments and biologists suggest that the Sami resource management strategies are insufficient, and they do not recognize the Siidas authority regardin resource management. Yet, historically there has been no reports of overgrazing, except from wild reindeer. Mass starvation has only occured twice in this century - in the winters of 1917-18 and 1967-68. On both occasions caused by unfavorable weather conditions. Early winter rainfalls followed by frost made it difficult for the reindeer to break through the icelayer which covered the grass. |
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Changes in the Institution over time |
| The land available is being reduced by administrative borders (earlier Sami's would migrate as far as to Russia, Greenland, Alaska and Canada in order to find pasture) and competing land uses (agriculture, tourism, mining etc.). |
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Purpose |
| Resource Management of Pasture Land. |
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Country |
| Norway, Finland and Sweden. |
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Region |
| Gouvdageaidnu, Finnmark. |
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Date Of Publication |
| TroB 180396. |
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