“The conference will gather together, for the first time in Finland, sacred sites custodians, scientists, indigenous people’s organizations, policy makers and other people interested in the issue, to talk and better recognize, legally protect, conserve and manage sacred natural sites of indigenous peoples in Northern and Arctic regions”, says one of the organizers, researcher Leena Heinämäki from the Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland.

Sacred natural sites (SNS) are being increasingly recognized as an important means for the conservation of biological and cultural diversity, and the transmission of the indigenous culture and identity. Yet, legal protection of SNS and related policies are still often insufficient or absent. It becomes increasingly difficult for custodians in the North to protect these ancient sites, due to economic developments (tourism, mining, forestry) and infrastructural development (roads, dams, etc.). At the same time the need for protection may be challenged by some protection measures (identifying of location, mapping) and may raise the question of keeping intimacy and sensitivity of these places.

“Our aim is to raise public awareness of the challenges faced by the sacred natural sites custodians. Also developing the dialogue between communities, scientists and decision makers is important to assure that the cultural and spiritual values of the nature are taken into account in different actions”, highlights Researcher Heinämäki few of the core goals of the conference.

Main outputs of the conference is to provide recommendations for policy-making related to SNS in the Arctic, as well as start a participatory educational research project to advance the transmission of spiritually relevant culturally embedded knowledge and practices related to sacred sites to younger generations. The aim is to make also a publication on the protection of the SNS in the Northern and Arctic regions.

The conference is co-organized by the Arctic Centre (University of Lapland) together with the University of Montreal and the Arctic Law Thematic Network (University of the Arctic).

PROTECTING THE SACRED:
Recognition of Sacred Sites of Indigenous Peoples for Sustaining Nature and Culture in Northern and Arctic Regions
Place: Rovaniemi and Pyhä, Finland
Date: September 11–13, 2013
Abstract deadline: February 28, 2013
Abstracts and contact:
leena.heinamaki (at) ulapland.fi & thora.martina.herrmann (at) umontreal.ca


For more information:
Research Fellow Leena Heinämäki
Arctic Centre
Tel. +358 40 484 4280
leena.heinamaki (at) ulapland.fi

Professor Thora Herrmann
University of Montreal
thora.martina.herrmann (at) umontreal.ca

ULapland / Arctic Centre / JL