Fear of Livelihood Disruption: Sapmi Indigenous People Respons to Arctic Infrastructure in Finland

Abstract

This study focuses on the encounter between the indigenous Sápmi movement and the Northern Sea Route development project in the Arctic region of Finland. In 2018, the governments of Finland and Norway proposed an Arctic railway to connect the two countries with European and Asian markets via the northern sea shipping line. With strong global support from governments and multinational companies, the plan will practically become a challenge for Sápmi's struggle to win over natural resources in Finland, especially those related to their livelihoods. This research aims to see how local communities respond to this narrative and its praxis based on experiences in dealing with large-scale infrastructure development.