Image: Gudrun Norstedt
Research project "Sharing land" could mean to share the same land, or the share the land between several people. In this project, we study how the Sami managed land and resources during the times when they still were in the majority of the "lappmarker", the Sami districts in Sweden.
As long as the Sami consisted the majority of the population of the so called lappmarker, the Sami districts of Sweden, they largely controlled land and water management. In fact, they were in the majority also among the panel of lay judges in the district courts, whose saying was crucial for decisions regarding conflicts on land and waters. In this project, we identify persons and places mentioned in protocols from the courts of the Sami districts in Sweden until 1845, map the resource use of individuals and groups, and analyse the arguments that were presented during deliberations.
The Sami were the dominant ethnic group in the Swedish Sami districts well into the late 18th century. Also, the Sami were in the majority in the panels of lay judges of the district courts, which settled conflicts regarding pastures, fishing waters, game, etc. Although the Swedish Crown had the formal power over the areas, the Sami had the final say on resource management locally.
Wiklund's excerpt collection
In Swedish district courts, the deliberations of the parties and the testimonies of the witnesses were documented in detailed protocols. They are invaluable historical sources, but unfortunately often very difficult to read. However, an easier way into the source material has been created through the digitisation of Wiklund's excerpt collection. This collection contains about 2 500 protocols from cases regarding Sami use of land and waters during the period 1645–1845.
Starting in Tjieggelvas
In this project, which is based on Wiklund's excerpt collection, we will identify the places and individuals mentioned in the protocols, and use a geographical information system (GIS) to map how individuals and groups moved in time and space, and how they used different kinds of resources. We will start in Tjieggelvas Nature Reserve in Pite lappmark, where forest-history research on Sami land use has been undertaken for a long time. Using the data from the court protocols, we will re-analyse forest-history data to achieve a deeper and broader understanding of how resources were used and managed.
Zooming out to the Sami district
From Tjieggelvas, we will zoom out to the whole district, Pite lappmark. This is the Sami district that was colonised last, which means that there are court protocols from a very long period of Sami dominance. We will use the protocols to investigate what arguments were brought forward and were important for decisions regarding the management of common resources.
A synthesis
Finally, we will compare Pite lappmark with other Sami districts where settlers came much earlier. The aim is to develop a synthesis on how the Sami managed the resources of the area before this was regulated by any national legislation, and how the considerations of the Sami were affected by the demands of the settlers.
The top image shows:
Jon-Ers Mountain in Björnlandet's National Park in Åsele Municipality, an old Forest Sami area.
Photo: Gudrun Norstedt
The nudge image shows:
A pine with a scar from Sami bark harvest in the Leipipir area in Gällivare Municipality. The Sami harvested bark from living pines in June, and dried it to use as food rich in carbohydrates.
Foto: Gudrun Norstedt
