The streets of Oslo, Norway were brought to a standstill as a group of activists, led by the renowned environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg, blocked the entrance to the energy ministry to protest against a wind farm that they claim is violating the rights of the Sami Indigenous people. The protesters, mostly teenagers, gathered at the ministry’s entrance, holding brightly colored Sami flags and a poster reading “Land Back”, a slogan that has become a rallying cry for indigenous peoples worldwide.
The group, comprising members of Young Friends of The Earth Norway and the Norwegian Sami Association’s youth council NSR-Nuorat, demanded an end to the ongoing human rights violations against Sami reindeer herders. In a bid to drive home their point, several of the activists donned traditional Sami clothing, setting up a tent used by the Arctic people to emphasize their connection with the land and their culture.
The wind farm in question has been the subject of controversy since October 2021, when Norway’s supreme court ruled that its construction had violated the rights of the Sami people. The Sami have been using the land to raise reindeer for centuries, and the court’s ruling was seen as a major victory for the indigenous community. However, despite the ruling, the wind farm remains operational, and the Sami continue to face challenges in asserting their rights.
Thunberg, who joined the protest early on Monday, sharply criticized the Norwegian government for ignoring the supreme court’s ruling. “It is absurd that the Norwegian government has chosen to ignore the ruling,” she said, condemning the government’s inaction as a betrayal of the Sami people’s rights.
The protesters’ actions had the effect of shutting down the ministry, prompting authorities to urge employees to work from home. By chaining themselves outside the main entrance, the activists made it impossible for ministry officials to enter the building, forcing them to abandon their offices.
Greta Thunberg (Via Greta Thunberg/Twitter)
In a statement, Norway’s energy minister Terje Aasland acknowledged that the supreme court had ruled against the wind farm, but claimed that the court had failed to provide guidance on what should happen to the project. According to Aasland, the government must now make new decisions that are consistent with the court’s judgment, but it remains unclear what action will be taken to address the Sami people’s concerns.
The standoff between the protesters and the authorities took a tense turn as police attempted to evict the activists from the ministry’s lobby and nearby government buildings. Officers were seen carrying away protesters who refused to move, but none were arrested. The Sami people, who have faced centuries of oppression and marginalization, continue to fight for their rights and their way of life.
As the world watches the escalation of this conflict, the Sami people’s struggle for self-determination and land rights serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing battle for indigenous rights worldwide. The activists’ use of the slogan “Land Back” is a clarion call for the return of land and resources to indigenous peoples, who were historically dispossessed of their rights and livelihoods.
The Sami people live in Lapland, a region that stretches across northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. Despite facing centuries of oppression, including bans on the use of their native tongue, the Sami have managed to preserve their culture and way of life, albeit in a modernized form. Today, they continue to tend to their reindeer, an integral part of their identity and livelihood.
As the standoff between the protesters and the authorities continues, the future of the wind farm and the Sami people’s rights hangs in the balance. The protesters’ bold action is a testament to the power of grassroots activism and the determination of indigenous peoples to reclaim their rights and their land. The Sami people’s struggle for self-determination is a powerful reminder of the ongoing human rights crisis facing indigenous peoples worldwide.
