--- title: "Swedish political rhetoric intensifies over Sami land rights and rare earth mining" publisher: "Stockmark.IT" author: "Stockmark.IT Website" published: "2026-09-08T06:18:34+00:00" modified: "2026-09-08T06:18:34+00:00" date: 2026-09-08 canonical: "https://stockmark.it/reindeer-and-rare-earth-minerals-swedish-politicians-take-aim-at-indig/" category: "China" categories: ["China", "Companies", "Energy", "Mining"] image: "https://i0.wp.com/stockmark.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/swedish-political-rhetoric-intensifies-over-sami-land-rights.png?fit=1536%2C1024&quality=80&ssl=1" format: "news" language: "en-GB" --- # Swedish political rhetoric intensifies over Sami land rights and rare earth mining **Published:** September 8, 2026 **Author:** Stockmark.IT Website **Categories:** China, Companies, Energy, Mining **Featured image:** ![Swedish political rhetoric intensifies over Sami land rights and rare earth mining](https://i0.wp.com/stockmark.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/swedish-political-rhetoric-intensifies-over-sami-land-rights.png?fit=1536%2C1024&quality=80&ssl=1) --- Political discourse in Sweden has become increasingly polarised regarding the rights of the Indigenous Sami people, with senior government figures publicly challenging traditional reindeer herding practices. This shift in tone has occurred in the run-up to the national elections scheduled for 13 September, as the centre-right coalition government seeks to balance Indigenous land rights with strategic industrial development. The controversy centres on the state-owned mining company LKAB’s plans to expand its iron ore operations near Kiruna, a move that many Sami community members fear will permanently disrupt their traditional livelihoods and cultural heritage. The tension was heightened by statements from Ebba Busch, the deputy prime minister and energy minister, who has argued that reindeer husbandry has limited economic significance despite its impact on large areas of land. In a series of speeches and articles published in late April and May, Busch and her Christian Democrats party called for a reduction in reindeer numbers and for the state to reclaim responsibility for land used by herders. The party’s election manifesto explicitly pledged to resolve conflicts between reindeer husbandry and industrial development, while also protecting the right to hunt on state-owned land. This rhetoric has been echoed by the far-right Sweden Democrats, who have also questioned Sami land rights in their own manifesto, positioning herders against industrial development and tourism. The underlying driver of this political stance is the Swedish and European Union strategy to reduce dependence on Chinese imports of critical minerals. The government aims to open up sparsely populated northern regions for mineral resource exploitation and to expand nuclear power capabilities. The specific focus is the Per Geijer deposit, which holds Europe’s largest known reserve of rare-earth elements. LKAB’s plan to expand the Kiruna mine to include this deposit involves relocating the town of Kiruna itself to a new site due to subsidence issues. This relocation has already drawn global attention, particularly when the town’s red wooden church, designed to resemble a Sami hut, was moved five kilometres to its new location last summer. For the Gabna Sami community, the proposed expansion represents an existential threat. Lars-Marcus Kuhmunen, head of the Gabna community, stated that the plans would sever the connection between calving grounds and mountain areas, effectively ending their traditional way of life. He warned that the project would serve as a starting gun for increased industrialisation across Sweden, affecting all Sami villages. Anna-Karin Niia, a Gabna herder, expressed frustration at feeling ignored by the central government in Stockholm. She emphasised that while mineral resources are important, Indigenous rights and the preservation of nature are equally critical. She noted that the Sami are constitutional protectors and that reducing reindeer herds to win elections is not an acceptable approach. Åsa Larsson Blind, a board member of the Sami parliament, described the recent political rhetoric as astonishing in its scope. She argued that by highlighting the Sami as enemies of development, the deputy prime minister has made it clear that she does not seek Sami support. Larsson Blind noted that while anti-Sami sentiment in local elections is not new, the current national-level discourse has pushed boundaries that were previously considered politically incorrect. She believes this has opened a deep divide within Swedish politics that will be difficult to overcome, shattering hopes that politicians would take their responsibilities towards the Sami people seriously. Nils-Johan Labba, a master craftsman and Sami parliament politician, criticised the government for focusing on hating minorities rather than resolving the practical problems facing Kiruna. He noted that the town’s relocation has left it bleeding, with negative impacts on transport and education. In response to the criticism, Peter Kullgren, a member of the Christian Democrats board, stated that Sweden has a responsibility to protect Sami rights but must also weigh these against other strong public interests. He argued that mineral resources are strategically important for Sweden and Europe, and that the state must be able to make decisions when public interests conflict, despite existing high standards of dialogue and influence. LKAB has stated that the expansion process is still at an early stage and that the application is currently being reviewed by the Swedish mining inspectorate. The company said it understands its plans would have an impact and has submitted a reindeer herding impact assessment with proposed measures to support continued herding. LKAB emphasised that its goal is not to dismiss concerns but to work toward solutions that safeguard both industrial and Indigenous interests over the long term. --- **Original URL:** https://stockmark.it/reindeer-and-rare-earth-minerals-swedish-politicians-take-aim-at-indig/ *Created by [WP Markdown Endpoint](https://wpmarkdownendpoint.com/)*