Well this is how Jokkmokk looks like like. This is just a small part of Jokkmokk. We've chosen
to live here for a reason, we want to be a part of nature. If I wanted to live in a mining
capital I would move to one.
The reindeer hereders fighting a new mine.
In a tiny town in the Arctic there's a big fight over a planned mine.
Iron ore, used to make steel, has been found nearby.
But it's on land used by Sami reindeer herders.
The Samis are part of the Arctic indigenous peoples a lot of my close friends and my family and
people in my family are reindeer herders and it's been in our culture for for several hundred
years, so the reindeer will be up in the mountains during the Spring in the summer time and during
the fall and winter it will be down in the forest in the wood area because of that you
have to follow them and move them they can walk themselves but you have to protect them
from predators and and also see if there's enough food.
But reindeer herders say a new mine could kill their animals.
By cutting off an important winter grazing area.
And by increasing road traffic.
Right now we're standing up here where the planned mine would be.
If we can't find this area then we must find a new place
and then there would be conflicts with other reindeer herders.
because there isn't enough pasture to go round.
Some mine supporters have suggested modernising traditions.
Trucks could move the animals around the mine...
and Sami could be compensated for extra costs.
For me it's heartbreaking to hear that is even a suggestion. There is a reason why why
our animals feel so why they feel so good because they are so free. Like, if you have
to move the reindeer in trucks you kill the hole you kill the whole... soul.
Sweden't parliament approved a new mine here in March 2022...
if the mining company promises to limit the impact on reindeer...
and keep having talks with the Sami people.
There are also strict tests to secure an environmental permit.
It is important to have more metal mining in Sweden and in Europe. The metals and minerals
are indispensable for the green transition. If we don't have the minerals we need for
the technology, that will actually help us coming out of the climate crisis, we won't
be able to succeed. For example for wind turbines and for cars. You can never get away from the
fact that the mine is a hole in the ground and you need transport and you need the infrastructure
around it so you will affect the environment, but you can do it as little as possible.
The mine will also create hundreds of new jobs in the Jokkmokk area...
which has a shrinking population.
Many locals currently commute to other mining towns.
I f it would be like for better for the environment and try to make it like
more negotiatable with the Sami people then yeah I'm gonna try to get a job there because
I want to earn quick money before I leave the town.
Climate activists have previously protested near the mining site.
They say it's not sustainable because the minerals will run out.
And many Sami argue there's already too much industry nearby.
Have we not paid enough already`? Just have a look around..
Forestry, electricity companies. We have already paid enough.
And I would like my descendent, my children, to retain my lifestyle.
And therefore I would like people to understand why we can't accept a mine here.
Of course I'm for green energy of course I'm for that but I mean I think it's unfair that you you put
the responsibility on us.
That we are that we have to sacrifice our our land or the land up here for Sweden to
meet the climate goals. We will lose everything we will lose our jobs our lifestyle we will
lose our homes we will lose the reindeers that we love. The soul of the Sami culture.