In the Lapland River Deatnu, the Salmon War Rages On

Aslak Holmberg, a Sámi activist and former president of the Sámi Council, lives in Nuorgam, a village on the Deatnu River in Finland's northernmost Lapland, near the Norwegian border. He prefers to call the area "northern Sápmi," the ancestral territory of his people, which holds sacred sites.

Holmberg, who holds a master's degree in Indigenous studies, has dedicated much of his work to the river, salmon fishing, and the rights associated with this environment. He recalls growing up fishing salmon and witnessing its gradual decline. This decline has ignited a political and identity conflict, pitting traditional practices against scientific considerations.

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A large part of my work revolves around the river, salmon fishing, and the rights related to this environment.

The disappearance of Atlantic salmon from the Deatnu River is not just an ecological issue; it has become a focal point for the Sámi people's struggle to maintain their cultural heritage and assert their rights. Marginalized and often unheard, the Sámi are finding it increasingly difficult to defend their traditional way of life, which is intrinsically linked to the river and its salmon populations. The situation highlights the complex challenges faced by Indigenous communities in balancing tradition with modern conservation and political realities.

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I grew up fishing for salmon and I saw