”De kör över en ändå…” Konsekvenser av gruvan i Kaunisvaara för Muonio sameby

This research paper examines the impacts of the Kaunisvaara mine on the Muonio reindeer herding district, detailing how the operation has led to significant land loss, economic decline, and psychological stress for the Sámi community, while highlighting the failure of the Swedish legal system to protect indigenous rights.

• The Kaunisvaara mine has caused extensive land dispossession and environmental degradation, with direct pasture losses estimated at approximately 1,300 hectares. However, the actual impact is much larger due to 'disturbance zones' where reindeer avoid the area; interviewed herders report that herds typically do not approach within 15 kilometers of the mine and never within 5 kilometers.
• The mine has severely disrupted the reindeer's annual migratory cycle and health. Reindeer are forced to move to autumn lands prematurely during the summer, leading to the degradation of autumn pastures through over-trampling. This results in poorer physical condition and lower slaughter weights for the animals, as they miss nutrient-rich summer greenery.
• The Muonio reindeer herding district has suffered significant economic losses since the mine opened in 2012. These include reduced income from lower slaughter weights, increased costs for winter supplementary feeding, and higher expenses for technical aids like helicopters to move herds around the blocked migration routes.
• The mining operation has caused profound social and cultural damage, including the erosion of traditional Sámi knowledge as old grazing patterns become obsolete. It has also hindered generational renewal, as youth are discouraged from reindeer herding due to low profitability and are instead drawn into employment by the mining industry.
• Members of the Muonio reindeer herding district have experienced severe psychological stress and harassment. This includes feelings of being 'run over' by companies and state actors, as well as threats of violence and death threats from other local inhabitants who support the mine for its job opportunities.
• The actual consequences for the reindeer herding district far exceed the 'moderate' impacts predicted in the original permit applications. Furthermore, large portions of the current operation—such as the shift from rail to truck transport—were never properly assessed or approved by government authorities.
• The Muonio reindeer herding district has received no financial compensation for its losses since 2012. While they attempted to negotiate a civil agreement with Northland Resources, the company went bankrupt before signing. The successor, Kaunis Iron, has refused to honor previous negotiations or commit to compensation.
• The study highlights a systemic failure in Swedish legislation to protect Sámi rights, forcing reindeer herding districts into a 'forced choice' between ineffective court battles or unequal negotiations with mining companies. This lack of legal security undermines the rule of law in the mining sector.
• There are concerning democratic deficits in the licensing process, including potential undue influence from local politicians in Norrbotten within the Finnish-Swedish Transboundary River Commission (Gränsälvskommissionen).

APA

Larsen, R. K., & Boström, M. (2022). ”De kör över en ändå…” Konsekvenser av gruvan i Kaunisvaara för Muonio sameby. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/sei-wp-gruvan-muonio-sameby-klocker-larsen-131222.pdf

Chicago

Larsen, Rasmus Kløcker, and Maria Boström. ”De kör över en ändå…” Konsekvenser av gruvan i Kaunisvaara för Muonio sameby. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2022. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/sei-wp-gruvan-muonio-sameby-klocker-larsen-131222.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Larsen |first1=Rasmus Kløcker |last2=Boström |first2=Maria |title=”De kör över en ändå…” Konsekvenser av gruvan i Kaunisvaara för Muonio sameby |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=December 2022 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/sei-wp-gruvan-muonio-sameby-klocker-larsen-131222.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{larsen2022ver, author = {Larsen, Rasmus Kløcker and Boström, Maria}, title = {{”De kör över en ändå…” Konsekvenser av gruvan i Kaunisvaara för Muonio sameby}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2022}, month = dec, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/sei-wp-gruvan-muonio-sameby-klocker-larsen-131222.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }