SAMI PEOPLES - Geology Studies Against USA Gold Mining Expansions

KAUTOKEINO, Norway

Purpose: Geology Studies Against USA Gold Mining Expansions

Start Date: June, 2013

Funding Level: $25,000

Lives Directly Impacted: 3,000

SUMMARY

Inti Raymi Fund visited Norway and provided financial support to the Indigenous Sami Peoples’ Reindeer Herding Association. These funds were used for due diligence studies on the geological and environmental impacts for a proposed U.S. mining company’s purchase/lease offers to strip mine vast areas in the Sami Peoples Territories. The Sami Peoples' Reindeer Herding is their livelihood and any disruption to the ecosystem would impact this thousand+ year tradition.

SAMI REINDEER PROJECT

Reindeer herding has been the way of life for almost 10,000 years for the Sami Peoples of the Arctic Circle Region. Our aerial photo taken along the cliffs of Alta, Norway shows an 8,000 year old Reindeer petroglyph depicting reindeer herding as part of the lifeline and soul of the indigenous Sami, a testament to the importance of this animal in the livelihood of the Sami People.

INTI RAYMI FUND’S CONTRIBUTION

In keeping with the Inti Raymi Funds’s mission to support ancient and fragile societies, the Inti Raymi Fund provided financial support to the Indigenous Sami Peoples Reindeer Cooperative of Northern Norway. The funds are being used for software and topographic mapping, studies in soil degradation, pollution and erosion, with the intent to thwart a large U.S. Mining company from building a significant gold mining operation in the valley of Kautokeino, Norway. The proposed mine is currently under review by the Norwegian government and the Sami Parliament as well as the local community. Preventing big industry money and extractive industries from a victory here will set a new precedent in foiling the exploitive destruction of an ancient society. The message will be that money doesn’t always matter…life and lifestyle aren’t always for sale! Keep in mind that this is where the Santa Claus story, his reindeer and the elves came from. Let’s not lose this dream like so many other cultures and customs which have disappeared globally.

The Inti Raymi Fund became aware of the Sami Peoples while attending the World Conference of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The Inti Raymi Fund provided a $25,000 Grant into the Sami Community for the above aforementioned Human Rights Project.

The Inti Raymi Fund would like to express our opinion that the Norwegian Government represents the quintessential global role model for Human Rights Internationally. They were recently recognized at this year’s UN World Conference for Indigenous Peoples Rights (the Inti Raymi Fund attended). The Government of Norway not only acknowledges these Indigenous Sami Peoples of Norway, but they also fund their annual payroll of approximately 200 parliamentary members and support staff for the Sami Parliment. This truly is courage and grace hand in hand by the government of Norway. Thank you

All images by Inti Raymi Fund except 1) black and white image and 2) leather markings image below.

TEAM MEMBERS

CHIMU-IRF Founder & Nils Peter I Guap

COMMUNITY & INTI RAYMI FUND'S INVOLVEMENT

SAMI PEOPLES 10

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