– Must be able to discuss whether reindeer herding should have so much power

Balancing. Ulf Tore Johansen in the Sami party Nordkalottfolket, but it must be legitimate to discuss how much power reindeer herding should have in development matters. Photo: Private

Torstein Appfjell has built Norway's largest wind turbine on his reindeer pasture. His experience is that wind power and reindeer herding cannot be combined. Sami parliament representative Ulf Tore Johansen also believes that we must be able to discuss whether reindeer herding has had too great an influence on development in the north.

Text: Tarjei Abelsen

This summer, the Hålogaland Court of Appeal declared the Øyfjellet wind farm, Norway's largest wind power plant, invalid. The court found that the consequences for reindeer herding had not been sufficiently investigated.

This is the first time a wind power licensing decision has been declared invalid as a result of inadequate investigation. Lytring invites you to a debate in Mosjøen on Saturday, October 3rd and asks: Do we have to choose? Power or reindeer?

– For our part, I can say that it is not compatible with wind power and reindeer herding, says Torstein Appfjell, manager of the Jillen-Njaarke reindeer herding district.

The Hålogaland Court of Appeal believes that the reindeer herding district's relocation costs should have been taken into account.

The state has a duty

Sami parliament representative Ulf Tore Johansen is also on the panel, which will debate at Fru Haugan's hotel. He believes we must be able to discuss whether reindeer herding stands in the way of development in the north, even though the industry has the right to object in development cases.

– We also want to hear from reindeer herding, but as politicians we must think about what balance is best for society as a whole, and not just a specific industry, says Johansen.

He believes that the state has contributed to the conflicts by giving reindeer herding strong rights in development cases.

– It is the state that has said that reindeer herding should be given this right, and of course they are making use of this right. They are a cultural carrier in addition to being an industry, but we must be able to discuss the content and size of the industry, without it becoming hostile, says Johansen.

Don't want us to be heard

Torstein Appfjell believes it would be wrong to blame reindeer herding when the case in Mosjøen shows that the developer has not done what the law requires.

– Then we think it must be possible to place some of the blame on those planning the project. We are only defending our workplace and our right to survive. We have won because we have the right to be heard. That is important, if you ask me. We have been operating here for hundreds of years, says Appfjell.

He is glad it is not like 50 years ago, when reindeer herding had no protection.

– We have received greater protection than before, when we stood with our hats in our hands, but there are probably many who do not want the Sami to have a say in such matters, says Appfjell.

Always say no

Ulf Tore Johansen believes that it is often the case that local communities, where other Sami people also live, want development, and that people believe that reindeer herding has gained too much power.

– They have a right, but we must be able to debate whether they have too much power and whether it hinders development. It is felt as if it is a no no, regardless, from the reindeer herders, says Johansen.

“It is not the case that no is always said,” says Appfjell, who points out that agreements have been made with reindeer herding in other places in the country.

On Saturday they will meet in Mosjøen. With researchers Olof Stjernström from Nord University and Ellen Aasgård, head of research at Sintef, on the panel, they will discuss the question: Does Northern Norway have to choose between more power and the survival of reindeer herding?

The debate is led by Lytring -editor Anki Gerhardsen, and can also be followed on lytring .no. Organized in collaboration with the Norwegian Journalist Association North.