Sacrificing Indigenous Cultures for a Sustainable Future? Media representations of green transition in the Sámi context

• Main Author: Ruotsalainen, Elise
• Other Authors: Helsingin yliopisto, Bio- ja ympäristötieteellinen tiedekunta, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Helsingfors universitet, Bio- och miljövetenskapliga fakulteten
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Helsingin yliopisto 2024
• Subjects: Green transition; Sámi; Sápmi; wind power; mining; extractivism; Indigenous Environmental Justice; Globaali kestävyys; Global Sustainability; Global hållbarhet; Ympäristömuutoksen ja globaalin kestävyyden maisteriohjelma (ECGS); Master's Programme in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability; Magisterprogrammet i miljöförändringar och global hållbarhet; Climate change; giron
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10138/577737

In Sápmi, the traditional homelands of the Indigenous Sámi, climate change and green transition have created together a double burden for the Arctic ecosystems and the Sámi. As an effort to mitigate the climate change, the transition towards green sources of energy and mineral intensive technologies have created conflicting interests for land use in Sápmi, as extractivist activities have been located for instance to their traditional reindeer pasture lands. This thesis focuses on representations of Western edited media about green transition related extractive activities in Sámi context. Construction and operation of Fosen wind farm in Norway and expansion of mineral extraction in Giron, Sweden, act as examples of such activities. The research question is: what issues the Western edited media represents when discussing extractive activities regarding green transition, in the Sámi context? The thesis derives from the identified research gap of the matter, as this kind of research regarding the Sámi has not been conducted before. The thesis uses inductive thematic analysis to identify issues the news media articles represent regarding cases of Fosen and Giron. The research data consists of 35 news articles, published between 2016-2024. The applicable case examples were identified in data collection as illustrating the green transition related extractivist activities having significant impact on the Sámi communities. Through thematic analysis, six themes were identified and further analyzed through the framework of Indigenous Environmental Justice (IEJ). The analysis shows that the media represents green transition related extractivism in both negative- and positive lights. Whereas wind power and mineral extraction are represented as essential drivers for sustainable future, they also have negative impacts for the ecosystems in Sápmi and to the Sámi culture and livelihoods. The activities are represented as causing disputes between the Sámi and other stakeholders, due to conflicting interests of land-use and the ...