Sámi Designers Using Craft to Fight for their Indigenous Land
Sàpmi, Kiruna, Sweden.
In Kiruna, Sweden, the indigenous Sámi people are facing serious challenges to their ancestral land due to mining, development and climate change. This small town, located just above the Arctic Circle, lies in Sápmi - the Sámi territory that stretches across northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia’s Kola Peninsula. It’s a region known for its vast wilderness, midnight sun, and harsh winters, as well as its wealth of natural resources. Kiruna’s famous iron ore mine, which lies beneath the city, has not only forced the town to relocate but has also encroached on Sámi territory.
I traveled to Sápmi to meet and document the work of three Sámi artists who are using their designs to protest the exploitation of their land.
Their message was clear: protecting Sápmi isn’t just about the land — it’s about keeping their very existence alive.
Commissioned by adventure.com. Read full article here.
