The Holistic Effects of Climate Change on the Culture, Well-Being, and Health of the Saami, the Only Indigenous People in the European Union

Abstract

Purpose of Review(1) To develop a framework for understanding the holistic effects of climate change on the Saami people; (2) to summarize the scientific evidence about the primary, secondary, and tertiary effects of climate change on Saami culture and Sápmi region; and (3) to identify gaps in the knowledge of the effects of climate change on health and well-being of the Saami.Recent FindingsThe Saami health is on average similar, or slightly better compared to the health of other populations in the same area. Warming climate has already influenced Saami reindeer culture. Mental health and suicide risk partly linked to changing physical and social environments are major concerns.SummaryThe lifestyle, diet, and morbidity of the Saami are changing to resemble the majority populations posing threats for the health of the Saami and making them more vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Climate change is a threat for the cultural way of life of Saami. Possibilities for Saami to adapt to climate change are limited.

Indigenous mental health in a changing climate: a systematic scoping review of the global literature

“…Notably, climate change research and reports often identify women, children, and the elderly as vulnerable groups for climate-sensitive health outcomes [26]; however, the articles from the present review suggest that Indigenous adults, particularly those with land-based livelihoods, also face specific mental health challenges [e.g. 8,42,60,77]. Similar findings have been found in research from farming contexts in India and Australia, where drought is driving deterioration of farming livelihoods, leading to struggles with suicide and depression [15,19].…”

“…The deterioration of protective factors for community-wellbeing, such as local cultures and knowledge systems, and the subsequent emotional and mental impacts are examples of intangible (non-economic) climate-induced losses and damages [13,107,108]. These less visible forms of harm were widespread across Indigenous mental health and climate research [1,77,107]; however, as a relatively under-explored topic in global climate justice discussions [109], explicitly describing intangible loss and damage is integral for Indigenous communities to receive appropriate support [13,109]. Yet, in a recent review of intangible harm, less research was reported among Indigenous Peoples in low-income countries; this lack of research was cited as an epistemological disparity in which forms of loss and damage are not being acknowledged, or are absent from the literature, leading to important and inequitable gaps in understanding [107].…”

“…43,69,75]. Grief and mourning for climate-related loss of livestock and wildlife was also documented: Sami reindeer herders in Sweden reported loss of animals due to increased climate-driven predation [76,77]; Indigenous Peoples in northern Vietnam experienced the loss of water-buffalo due to changing temperatures [42]; and Inupiat in Alaska experienced an insufficient whale harvest as 'a starvation at emotional and spiritual levels' [69, p 296].…”

Ilmasto-oikeudenmukaisuus suomalaisessa hyvinvointi- ja terveyspolitiikassa-Suuntaviivoja tutkimukselle

“…Euroopan ainoan alkuperäiskansan, saamelaisten näkökulma ilmastonmuutokseen hyvinvointivaikutuksiin ja niihin sopeutumiseen poikkeaa valtavirrasta. Ilmastonmuutoksella on monimutkaisia ja erisuuntaisia vaikutuksia saamelaiskulttuurille olennaisille paikallisolosuhteille, poroelinkeinon edellytyksille sekä mielenterveydelle ja haavoittuvuudelle yleisesti (32). Alkuperäiskansojen yleisesti heikompi sosioekonominen ja institutionaalinen asema sekä terveyspalveluiden vaikea saavutettavuus voivat edelleen vahvistaa näiden haavoittuvuutta (33).…”

Role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Seasonal Calendars in the Context of Climate Change: A Case Study from China

“…Indigenous communities were considered as extremely vulnerable to climate change owing to their direct impacts on crop and animal productivity, food security [6], as well as agricultural patterns [7]. Furthermore, climate change threatens human and social development by altering customary means of livelihood, forceful migration and finally traditional knowledge loss [8,9]. Indigenous communities are active in a broad range of ecosystems [1], they can provide valuable information about social-ecological systems, climatic change, and traditional way of adapting to changes in the place where scientific data is scarce [10,11].…”