Indigenous Peoples and the Environment: Convergence from a Nordic Perspective
UCLA UCLA Journal of Environmental Law and Policy Title Indigenous Peoples and the Environment: Convergence from a Nordic Perspective Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1vq7z28x Journal UCLA Journal of Environmental Law and Policy, 20(2) Author Watters, Lawrence Publication Date 2002 DOI 10.5070/L5202019389 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Indigenous Peoples and the Environment: Convergence from a Nordic Perspective Lawrence Watters* "The central question here, as in all issues concerning indigenous rights, is who is in a position to control resources. It is question of land rights."1 Sami - Scandinavia "To us Indians human rights is a matter of daily survival; it is the right to food, to firewood and to fresh water, but above all it is the right to our customs."'2 Plains Cree - Canada "Our history, identity, and tribal sovereignity are indistinguish- able from the land. From time immemorial, it has always been so."'3 Umatilla - United States INTRODUCTION Since the Stocholm Declaration thirty years ago and particu- larly in the last decade, the rights and status of indigenous peo- * Visiting Professor, Fulbright Scholar, Institute of Public and International Law, University of Oslo, 2001-2002. A note of genuine appreciation is due to my col- leagues for this work in Norway: Hans Christian Bugge, Geir Ulfstein, Anne Hel- lum, Henning Jakhelln, Jon Johnsen, Stale Eskeland, Ulf Stridbeck, Ole Christian Fauchauld and Inger Johanne Sand at the Faculty of Law, University of Oslo, along with the excellent staff of the Law Library; Kirsti Stran Bell, also at the Faculty of Law, University of Oslo; Jean Nesland Olsen, Executive Director, Fulbright Founda- tion of Norway; and, William Burke and William Rodgers at the University of Wash- ington School of Law.
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