CONFRONTATION AHEAD

Confrontation. (con·fron·ta·tion)

noun

1. an act of confronting.2. the state of being confronted.3. a meeting of persons face to face.4. an open conflict of opposing ideas, forces, etc.5. a bringing together of ideas, themes, etc., for comparison.

The lines we draw on a mapThe way we draw a landscape changes its story, adds a new narrative. The map of Finmark, with the superimposed grid of mineral exploration rights resembles colonial maps of north Africa or the American mid-west. The straight connecting lines of the point grid erase shape and scale of the landscape, and ignore the flows and traits of the lives lived in it.

The grid renders a powerful and quantifiable terminology of landscape, of something that is, or is not. And the exploration map confronts us with the reading of Finnmark as a source of unlimited mineral exploitation.

Any new map launches new realities. The resource mapping adds new pressure to the landscape. In order to confront this, we need to draw the alternative maps, launch the other realities, gather knowledge and make strategies for visualisation and democratisation.

Kjerstin Uhre, 21.11.2011, Facebook

Section 7. Categories of minerals used in the Act

In this Act, “minerals owned by the State“ means:

a) metals with a specific gravity of 5 grammes/cm3 or

greater, including chromium, manganese, molybdenum, niobium,

vanadium, iron, nickel,copper, zinc, silver, gold, cobalt,

lead, platinum, tin, zinc, zirconium,tungsten, uranium,

cadmium and thorium, and ores of such metals.Alluvial gold,

however, shall not fall within the definition;b) the metals

titanium and arsenic, and ores of these;c) pyrrhotite and

pyrite.In this Act, “minerals owned by a landowner“ means

all minerals that are not minerals owned by the State pursu-

ant to the first paragraph. However, this shall not apply to

petroleum pursuant to the Act of 4 May 1973 No. 21 relating

to exploration and extraction of petroleum located in the

ground on Norwegian onshore territory.

Chapter 2. Searching Section 8. Right to searchAny party may search for mineral deposits on another party“s

land, subject to the limitations set out in this Act and

other legislation. The right to search does not include the

collection of minerals that fall outside the purpose and

scope of the Act.A search shall not obstruct the explora-

tion, extraction or operations of other parties pursuant to

this Act.Section 9. Scope of the right to search

The searching party may undertake such works on the surface

of the land as are necessary to establish the existence of

mineral deposits. Measures that may cause damage of sig-

nificance may not be implemented without the consent of the

landowner and the user of the land.

Section 10. Duty to give notice

The searching party shall give notice to the landowner and

the user of the land one week before a search is begun, at

the latest. Notice may be given orally or in writing. If

oral or written notification would cause unreasonable incon-

venience, notice may be given by means of an announcement in

a newspaper that is commonly read in the area.In the case

of a search in Finnmark, the searching party shall in addi-

tion give written notice to the Sameting (the Sami Parlia-

ment), Finnmarkseiendommen (the Finnmark Estate) where it is

landowner, and the relevant area board and district board

for reindeer management. Whenever practically possible, the

siidas, see section 51 of the Act of 15 June 2007 No. 40 re-

lating to reindeer management (the Reindeer Management Act),

shall be given oral notice. Notice shall be given as early

as possible, and at the latest two weeks before a search is

begun.The Ministry may issue regulations concerning the duty to

give notice and exceptions from the duty.

Chapter 3. Exploration of minerals owned by a landowner

Section 11. Agreement granting an exploration permit

Any party wishing to explore deposits of minerals owned by a

landowner must enter into an agreement with the landowner.

If no agreement is reached, an application may be made for

compulsory acquisition, see section 37.

Section 12. Pilot extractionIn addition to an agreement with the landowner, pilot ex-

traction requires a special permit from the Directorate of

Mining. “Pilot extraction“ shall mean extraction that is

necessary to assess the commercial viability of a deposit.

Except in special cases, a permit for pilot extraction

not be granted for the ex-

0 25 50 75 100Kilometers

Looking beneath the surface. Geological maps exceed national borders, the timespan of human history and the scales of nature.

As the quest for natural resources continues under ground, maps of fish stocks, fresh water streams, waterfalls, arable lands and bountiful forrests are replaced by magnetic and radiomagnetic maps of mineral deposits. Gradually changing the perceived reality

The new mineral law has been followed by heavy investment in magnetic and radiografic exploration surveys on land and offshore.

The swung geological lines are translated into point references. The green stone belts of Finnmark are marked in blue.

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Below the ground and above our heads?While underground territories are explored according to the UTM aligned grid, a fluid constellation of international investment and mineral exploration companies is forming above ground.

Capital flows across national borders and between the companies active in the search for new mineral resources. Companies change owners and exploration rights change hands at the ebb and flow of global economy.

Dalradian Resources LTD

Snapshot of exploration rights 28.03.12

Greenland Gold Resources LTDSydvaranger Gruve ASArctic Gold ABAntaeus ASScandinavian Resources ABNUSSIR ASAMineralia ANSKimberlitt ASMetallica Mining ASAStore Norske Gull ASHeli Holding ASREE MiningDrake Resources LTDKiruna Iro ABNordic Mining ASATerra Control ASNorwegian Resource Ventures Ailu Fuchsit ASPending applications

The quiet stakeholder

At latitudes north of the polar circle, low temperatures and short seasons leads to slow growth and decomposition of organic material, resulting in meager soils and slow revegetation.

Every plant is a result of a process of adaptation to the conditions and to the geologically formed landscape. A cliff can give shelter from the wind and store heat from the sun; a shadovy vale can retain snow meaning more water, and a shorter growth season, the slow weathering of rocks adds minerals to the soil and water.

Redused pasture areas, overgrazing and motorisation, this is already an exhausted landscape.

Reindeer lichen grows very slow, only 3–5 mm per year and may take decades to return once overgrazed or trampled. It easily crumbles when it is cold or dry.

The land cover survey of Kautokeino ihas been carried out by means of a grid structure. Map measure, 1:15 000

Open area

Open area

Forest

Bog

Bog

Bog

Bog

Lake Biggejávri

Lake

Lake

One year is not another’s brother

Jahki ii leat jagi viellja. sami proverb

The practice of reindeer herding has developed over time, as a flexible organisation in continous interaction with the variations in seasons, vegetation and precipitation and the number of animals.

The choice of route followed between seasonal pastures are negotiated with topography, composition of the herd, availability of pasture, snow cover and customary agreements between herding families.

Increased pressure on pastures and routes, motorized herding and fencing are changing the terms of this negotiation.

LANDSCAPE OF EIGHT SEASONS

reindeer herder cabins

collecting area

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much used sites for lávvu

tagging and slaughter

fencing

fencing

spring pasture: calving area, preferably hilly without cliffs and rivers, dry ground and open landscape

vinter pasture: herds are split during winter to find food as the snow changes from light and dry to packed and icy.

In autumn, the reindeer migrate inward from the coast, feeding on grasses and mushrooms.

In summer, the reindeer migrate towards the coast and higher ground. Does and calves travel separately from the bucks, more slowly across easier routes

spring pasture

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autumn pasture

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autumn/winter- and winter p

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Drawing a map with the tractor The pattern of farming along the Karasjohka river has develped in a negotiation with the meandering river, the terrain and geology of the valley and developments in farming equipment. Contrary to the sami reindeer herders, the farmers own the land, and have continously worked within the same boundaries, to the edge of their property and the limits of cultivated soil.

Negotiation with nature continues, as farming becomes less profitable and former home field grasslands are reclaimed by the forest.

SOSI standard 4.0:<<CodeList>> ArealressursArealtype

+ Built area and infrastructure = 10+ Built area = 11+ Infrastructure = 12+ Agriculture = 20+ Fully cultivated land = 21+ Superficially cultivated land = 22+ Home fields grazing = 23+ Forest = 30+ Open firm ground = 50+ Bog = 60+ Glacier = 70+ Water = 80+ Fresh water = 81+ Ocean = 82+ Not surveyed = 99

Land resource data are used in impact assessments and area planning. The standards of the general feature catalogue uses suitability for agriculture as its measure for mapping land resources

Karasjok Municipality.

K a r a s j o h k a

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In 2002, the municipality of Kautokeino decided to build a road to the natural stone quarry at Náránas, centrally located, north east of the town of Kautokeino. The newspaper trail revealed a case of coolliding economic, cultural and spatial interests. Involving local, regional and national decicionmakers, public and private stakeholders, conservation and preservation in conflict, global economic impacts and a bridge that was too short.

The road To NáráNaš

Following the line of argumentExploitation of mineral resources impacts the specific site of extraction, but the infrastructural implications extend much further. Mines or quarries in remote areas may be relatively small in their actual footprint, while the roads for transporting the resources out disrupt existing spatial relationships over a large area.

The municipality: had planned Náránaš as an area for rawmaterial exploitation and see this industry as a source of income and work places. Establish-ing a new road was a political priority and the planned alternative 2 was adopted in 2002

RV 93 Direction Guovdageaidnu / Kautokeino

Upgrade existing road, 14 km

RV 93

Short, 4 km road, 90 m

bri dg e, 7,5M

M

Gardejohkka

Herding route

Herding route

Herding route

The quarry company: costs of keeping the longest route might mean an end to operation

The Sami Parliament: opposed the municipal decision as the planned road would disturb a sami cultural heritage landscape at Heammonjávvi

The Area council: objected to alternative 1as the road crosses three herding routes and cuts through a vinter pasture area

The ministry of agriculture: followed up on the opposition from the reindeer industry to alt. 1

The area council: objected to alternative 3 as it would cut through hitherto intact vinterpastures

The county governor: alternative 1 is not wanted

3

2

1

Long, 6 km, 175 m bridge, 13,7 MM

Gievdneguoika

GaskabeaivárriNáránaš

Heammonjávvi

Heammonjávvi is a living cultural landscape with two sami inland farms, an unique and particularily diverse vegetation and 24 buildings of which 12 are automatically protected.The area is listed as a nationally important cultural landscape

Undisturbed pasture area used for dividing the up the herds after crossing the river. 20-30 000 reindeer pass through this area every spring

The existing road cross three herding routes and cut through vinter pastures

The Sami Parliament: considered alternative 3 to be acceptable in regards to sami cultural heritage.The ministry of agriculture: supports the

area council opposition to alt. 3.

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The Ministry of environment: Confirmed the original municipal decision giving priority to the importance of local industrial development. none of the alternatives were concidered a better solution.

The expence of incomeThe road to Náránas: 4 km long x 4 m wide, gravel

Detailing of the bridge revealed the need for deeper ancoring of pilars. Instead of 90 meters, the bridge is now 120 meters, divided in three spans of 40 meters. A rental agreement with the mineral companies that uses the road should cover the repayment of construction loans taken up by the municipality.

The quarry company: preferred alternative 2 as the shortest, least expensive to upkeap and easiest to transport men and machinery.

The Directorate for Cultural Heritage: reccomended to reject alt. 2 as the road cuts through the coherent cultural landscape of Heammonjávvi. A bridge across the river would disturb this landscape. Noise and dust from the traffic might negatively influence the continued habitation and farming

The reindeer industry: preferred alternative 2 as long as the existing road would be discontinued and revegetated

The county governor: reccomended under doubt alternative 2, with the added decision to keep the road closed between 1. Nov. and 15.

Verde Lapponia | Lappia Green | Atlantis

The green Masi quartzite has a folded structure with colour variations from white to emerald green. The green colour is due to the green, chromium-rich muscovite called fuchsite

The deposits are presently operated by Fuxit AS, a subsidiary of Terra Control AS, and MQ Granite AS that took over operations after Mineralutvikling AS went bancrupt with failing demand.

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Site inspection 13. March 2003

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The grid of the exploration map is a snapshot of the rush for access to resources in the north. It is however placed on top of an already pressured landscape, where the definition and prioritisation of resourses and not least the rights to access them are highly conflictive.

instead of a a slow process of negotiation and adaptation, there is a constant confrontation of values, interests and needs. Wherever the grid meets the ground, new confrontations will find place. This time with multinational corporations at the table, supported by strong national interests and governmental strategies.

The new mineral strategy must not be seen and written solely from the resource perspective of the mineral industry and government industrial strategies. The multi-layered interests already at play in the north, must be part of the discussion.

A strategy for minerals can not only be about when,, how and where, but should also be strong enough to say, where not, how not, and why not.

The mineral strategy sets the scope for mineralexploitation, it should also establish the limits of exploitation

Retracing the steps, references

Unless otherwise statet on the image: All aerial photos from Nord atlas, Fylkesatlas for Finmark, http://www.nordatlas.no/default.aspx?gui=1&lang=2

Digital maps from: Norge digitalt, Statens kartverks kartdata, N50, elevation, administrative borders, FKB, heritage registra-tion, reindeer herding, land resources http://www.statkart.no/Norge_digitalt/Norsk/Metadata/Nedlasting_av_data/

Geological data from: Norges Geologiske undersøkelser, NGU, http://www.statkart.no/Norge_digitalt/Norsk/Metadata/Nedlast-ing_av_data/

Information on Mineral exploration: Directorate of Mining, http://www.dirmin.no/default.aspx

Information on reindeer herding: Reindriftsforvaltningen: http://www.reindrift.no/

Information on Finmark kultural and natural landscapes: Miljøsta-tus i Finnmark, Naturområder, http://finnmark.miljostatus.no/msf_themepage.aspx?m=4480 (accessed 24.03.2012)

Information on Kautokeino municipal plans: http://www.kau-tokeino.kommune.no/finnmark/kautokeino/kautokeinok.nsf/id/74E8232B903CA91241256C4B004DFD82?OpenDocument

Inspiration from: Corner, J. and MacLean, A.S., Taking Measures Across the American Landscape, Yale University Press, October 1996, 208 p

Lecture notes and discussions with students and teachers dur-ing the Studio course, Field of Exploration, Limits of Exploitation

Hanne Johnsrud, 29. March 2012