Cross-border Reindeer Husbandry During World War II: Continuities, Limitations, and Long-term Consequences

How did World War II affect reindeer husbandry in the border regions of Norwegian and Swedish Sápmi, and (how) do such past experiences speak to present-day concerns about military presence in reindeer-herding areas?

This project examines  the challenges that World War II posed to Sámi practitioners of cross-border reindeer husbandry in Sápmi, the Sámi cultural area.

Due to Sweden’s neutrality during the war, research about the effects of armed conflict on reindeer grazing lands in Swedish Sápmi is lacking.

Situated in environmental history, this project draws from critical political ecology and postcolonial theory to study continuities, limitations and long-term effects regarding reindeer herding under wartime conditions.

It does so through the study of archival material, policy documents and the conduct of interviews with reindeer herders, Sámi representatives and Swedish state authorities.

The project brings past experiences in conversation with current concerns about military presence and activity in Swedish Sápmi by asking whether and how past challenges bear relevance to present matters, especially with regard to Sweden’s recent NATO accession.

Research results will help understand how military presence can contribute to changes in the practice of reindeer husbandry, knowledge that is timely and needed at a time where reindeer husbandry is exposed to multiple pressures and military presence in Sápmi may increase.