Raum, Recht und Indigenität: zu den Kämpfen um Landrechte indigener Völker am Beispiel der Sámi in Finnland

In: Peripherie: Politik, Ökonomie, Kultur, Band 32, Heft 126/127, S. 190-217

Abstract

"This paper discusses the relationship between space, law and indignity by building on the Lefebvrian conceptualization of the social production of space, a materialist understanding of law and critical theories of nationalism and indignity. The authors argue that in Western nation-states indignity is seen as an important strategy and resource used by indigenous groups to legitimize their land claim rights. More specifically, the text looks at a conflict between Saami reindeer herders, on the one side, and Metsähallitus, the Finnish government agency and wood manufacturers, on the other, in which some herders used their indignity strategically in an international campaign. The writers discuss three ways in which (the discourse on) socially produced space was relevant in the conflict: first, how, in the light of definitions of indignity in international law, the claims to a specifically indigenous production of space through reindeer herding was disputed; second, how current regionalization affects reindeer herding and Saami rights; and, third, how continuing reindeer herding is necessary as a basis for Saami land claim rights. As demonstrated by the case study of Saami reindeer herders, they conclude by arguing that using indignity as a strategy results in messy disputes over history and identity that can have counter-productive effects for those using the strategy." (author's abstract)