The research examines in particular the meaning of the traditional Lappish livelihoods, mainly reindeer herding, fishing and hunting on the point of view of the ILO Convention No. 169 concerning indigenous peoples.

"The purpose of the research is to provide a variety of options for societal decision-making on issues that have long puzzled and complicated the definition and recognition of the indigenous rights", says Researcher Joona.

The project will focus in particular on the land right questions of the ILO Convention and for example on how they should be understood in relation to other land use purposes in the area. The study also investigates how indigenous peoples' land rights in different countries have been organized and how the traditional indigenous land is protected.

The project has a steering group consisting of representatives among others from the Sami Parliament, Finnish Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The project will provide a publication using concrete examples. The project will be completed in June 2015.

For more information:
Postdoctoral Researcher Tanja Joona
Tel. +358 40 4844283
tanja.joona (at) ulapland.fi

ULapland/Arctic Centre/JL