Sami History IV – the colonization of the Samis land

1673 was the year when started the “Lapp mark-proclamation”. It was a point to start the colonization of Lapland to encourage new settlements in the Sami area. It was thought that agriculture and the Sami traditional ways of life could coexist on the same area. But with the time, history told that it rarely happened. The settlers used to hunt and fishing in the areas of Samis, affecting their livelihood, and many conflicts started. In 1751 the “Lapp mark-border” was installed. With it the right to fish and hunt was given for the Sami and the new settlers, while the coastal farmers weren’t allowed. In this year, the borders between the Scandinavian countries were drawn, but securing the Sami’s right to pasture with their reindeers on both sides.