Örebro Universitet HumUS-institutionen Kulturgeografi FIGHTING FOR EXISTENCE Exposing, questioning and moving beyond colonial practices within the Swedish planning framework for mining establishments. Emma Rasmusson Master thesis in Public Planning for Sustainable Development, Human Geography Spring, 2017 Tutor: Mats Lundmark ABSTRACT The aim of this thesis is to centre three people’s stories, their experiences and un- derstandings of the Swedish planning framework for mining establishments. The sto- ries centred are from Sami people whom in different ways analyses, questions, chal- lenges and changes the diverse expressions of colonialism, racism and capitalism within this framework. Through centring indigenous and decolonial planning this the- sis tries to expose colonial planning practices and how indigenous knowledges, worldviews and perspectives are made marginalised. But at the same time it reformu- lates, reconstruct and reimagines planning where non-hierarchical and relational thinking is centred. This thesis is made through guidance of (mainly) indigenous and decolonial theories, methodologies and methods. Keywords: decolonial, indigenous, planning, Sami, colonialism, capitalism, re- sistance. 2 THANKS Without Sarakka, Matti and Hanna Sofie it would not have been a thesis. I am ex- tremely grateful and I feel very honoured to have been given the opportunity to listen to their stories, to be able to discuss and think with them. I hope that this thesis re- spectfully reflects your stories and experiences, and that we will continue to discuss these issues at several occasions. As your ally, I will continue to expose colonial, racist and capitalist systems in the Swedish society. 3 Contents ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................. 2 THANKS ...................................................................................................................... 3 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 5 Purpose and questions ...................................................................................................... 6 Outline of thesis ................................................................................................................. 7 Introduction and contextualisation .................................................................................... 7 Theoretical framework ...................................................................................................... 7 Methodologies and methods ............................................................................................ 7 Conclusion and some final thoughts. ................................................................................ 7 Limitations .......................................................................................................................... 8 One part of many stories – what this thesis can contribute with .................................. 8 Contextualisation ............................................................................................................... 8 Colonisation of Sápmi ....................................................................................................... 8 Planning frameworks (for mining establishments) .......................................................... 11 International research on indigenous and decolonial planning ....................................... 11 Planning framework for mining establishments in Sápmi. .............................................. 12 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK - DECOLONIAL THINKING. ................................. 17 Contextualising western planning .................................................................................. 18 Colonial thinking ............................................................................................................. 19 Decolonial thinking .......................................................................................................... 19 Indigenous and decolonial planning .............................................................................. 20 METHODOLOGY AND RESPECTFUL RESEARCH ............................................... 24 Location ............................................................................................................................. 24 Yarning and the interview process ................................................................................. 25 Finding people to talk to ................................................................................................. 25 Yarning ........................................................................................................................... 26 Method – Listening and give space to stories ............................................................... 27 Questions to navigate through their stories .................................................................... 28 Reflections on the research process in general ............................................................ 28 EXPOSING, CHALLENGING AND MOVING BEYOND COLONIAL PLANNING ... 30 Colonial views of Sápmi .................................................................................................. 30 Centring own views of Sápmi and land usage .............................................................. 32 Historical perspectives on planning ............................................................................... 34 Navigating within the planning framework .................................................................... 37 Strategies .......................................................................................................................... 41 Demand economic compensation .................................................................................. 41 Using your rights ............................................................................................................. 42 Stressing the system and going to court ........................................................................ 44 Practicing reciprocity ...................................................................................................... 45 The necessity to fight ...................................................................................................... 45 Think outside the (colonial) box ..................................................................................... 47 CONCLUSION, FINAL THOUGHTS AND FUTURE STUDIES ................................ 50 REFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 53 APPENDIX ................................................................................................................ 66 Map over Sápmi ................................................................................................................ 66 Rights relating to indigenous people ............................................................................. 67 The mining establishment process ................................................................................ 68 Interview questions .......................................................................................................... 69 4 INTRODUCTION This thesis centres the stories of three people, their experiences and understandings of Swedish planning frameworks for mining establishments. The stories are told by Sami people who in different ways have been challenging, discussing and critiquing mining establishments in Sápmi. The Sami peoples are the indigenous peoples whose land has been divided by four countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland and Rus- sia1 (Lantto, 2010; Lundmark, 2008). Sápmi is the traditional and/or homeland of the Sami peoples, and it is here the great majority of mines and minerals are located (e.g. Haikola & Anshelm, 2016; Lawrence & Åhrén, 2017; Müller, 2013; Ojala & Nor- din, 2015; Sehlin MacNeil & Lawrence, 2017). The exploitation through mining is to be understood as one of the greatest challenges of Sami cultural survival of today (Gärdebo, Öhman & Mayuryama, 2014; Liliequist & Cocq, 2014). There is a historical and on-going ignorance in Sweden when it comes to colonisation of Sápmi (e.g. Larsson, 2014; Liliequist & Cocq, 2017; Ojala & Nordin, 2015; Omma 2013; Sehlin MacNeil & Lawrence, 2017; Sköld, 2005). In the foreword to Reclaiming Indigenous Planning (Aubin, 2013) we can read: Today, Indigenous communities have to fight to remain relevant on the en- vironmental, social, political, and economic local, national, and internation- al agendas or they will find themselves planned out of existence (p. xvi). Thus when I asked one of the participants if it was anything else she wanted to add in the end of our conversation, it was no surprise that she answered “we can’t choose not to engage, not to fight. Because then it's over”. Even if it was no surprise it defi- nitely puts the finger on why there is a need, a must, to discuss these issues. Indige- nous and decolonial planning is a practice that continuously evolves and differs de- pending on “cultural, temporal, and spatial contexts” (Matunga, 2013, pp. 3-4). In a very simplified manner Indigenous planning can be described as centring indigenous worldviews through decolonial practices; expose colonial planning traditions, pro- cesses and practices. Centring indigenous knowledges, experiences and