The Kebnekaise Massif holds the calm and powerful presence of an elder. Reaching high in the cloudless sky, one can easily grasp the depth of such a landscape. Evoking an eternal and ancient tempo, a rhythm the Sami of the surrounding valleys have been following for centuries.

Everything here is under the cadence of the glaciers growing and receding, the works of the wind and the inflection of water.

A pulse the scientific community has also been following for a century. Sitting at 1130 m a.s.l., facing three glaciers, Tarfala Research Station is the base of the longest glacier mass balance record on the globe. Storglaciären has been photographed since 1886. The location for a research base was identified in 1945 when Hans Ahlmann and Valter Schytt decided to start a long term mass balance monitoring programme on an easily accessible, relatively safe and responsive glacier. Since, scientists from around the world come to study, research, live and breath the essence of the place. Tarfala is a little comfort paradise in the middle of what can be a very harsh environment by times.

Even if one would like to ignore it; research conducted up here all point toward evidence of a rapidly changing landscape due to climate change. The on-going investigations allow for keeping an eye on the indicators of these changes and help with projections of future impacts. Thus creating a legacy of invaluable knowledge and data regarding climate change impacts in northern Sweden and Scandinavia.

But with increasing climate change consequences pressing on local communities, a legacy of scientific data is not a solution, it is a tool. A tool, that combined with others, will open up to new innovative alternatives.

This, Ninis Rosqvist the director of Tarfala Research Station, is very aware of it. She envisions Tarfala working with the local Sami in order to help one another in research and application of diverse forms of knowledge. Enhancing exchange based on cooperation in contrast to old-fashion use of traditional knowledge with little return to local communities.

As the area is an important site for reindeer husbandry and natural resources, understanding how the climate will impact this region is an essential interest of all the surrounding communities – popular and scientific. Tarfala Research Station is another example of the growing momentum towards collaborative work between disciplines, skills and knowledge.

Photo; Marika Wennbom

According to the Swedish paper ”Afonbladet” six of ten Swedish politicians in the municipalities are doubtful as to whether humans actually is responsible for the climate change.

Maybe that explains why so little is done?

NNCC has now published the project’s website www.nncc.eu. There you will find our news, information about upcoming events, interesting downloads etc. Take a look and follow the development of the project online!

We have developed easily downloadable Climate Tools for you to use together with a group of colleagues, friends or neighbors! Download the training tools on our website and start using your knowledge and ideas for a better climate !

About 40 people came to the park in Jokkmokk to participate in the manifestation. Musician Nina Nordvall Vahlberg entertained and there was barbecue and lights of outdoor candles.

Foto: Margaretha Dahl Sandling

Foto: Torbjörn Sandling

In Jokkmokk we will arrange a small festivity during the Earth Hour on the 31st 20.30 – 21.30.
The municipality and the National Road Administration has agreed to turn out the lights in the center of Jokkmokk during that hour. We will have some entertainment and hopefully the hole village will attend to make the Hourth Hour a great manifestation for the climate.
unfortunately we do not have the advertisement in english:

On February 2, at the Jokkmokk Winter Conference.

Idea is a comprehensive word that applies to almost any aspect of mental activity. A thought, on the other hand, is an idea that is the result of meditation, reasoning, or some other intellectual activity. While a conception is a concept that is held by an individual or small group and that is often colored by imagination and feeling. I have the impression this conference had enliven all three.

The JWC organizers have done a great deal of amazing work. All the long preparation work, the logistics and organization of the event have resulted in creating stronger ties between people, places and knowledge that are often seen as far apart. It revived the interests, animated debates and rejuvenated energy for the following year… until the next meeting!

“Confidence, knowledge and heart!”  these three words shouted by the young Sami Isak Utsi, reflect well the purpose of a meeting like JWC. This colorful gathering in the middle of the crude winter is a direct analogy to the task of implementing knowledge into action in regards to climate change.

With roaming temperatures around -35’C; the growing festive ambiance in Jokkmokk due to the winter market also calls for confidence, knowledge and heart!

On February 2, at the Jokkmokk Winter Conference

While people are busy outside getting the Jokkmokk Winter Market ready, inside, the JWC is wrapping up. Ideas are reinforced, connections are settled, networking is exponential.

Important last words are sending off the participants in their home countries; making the expression ‘take home message’ more real than ever. Following are some collected missives;

Guiding lights: Stefan Mikaelsson from the Swedish Sami Parliament said that people living in the European arctic have more similarities with other First Nations in northern Canada and Alaska than with their own capitals. This revives the importance of considering arctic topics for and by the people living in those regions.

“Time is flying… but we are the pilots!” voiced Stefan Mikaelsson. Thus, the Sami Parliament asks other countries in the Arctic to consider the impacts of their actions for the following seven generations; a principle also present amongst indigenous people of North America.

On February 1, at the Jokkmokk Winter Conference.

The afternoon session had the three major countries member of the Arctic Council – USA, Canada and Russia. Although the USA don’t have much Arctic coastline compared to the two others; they have a big population and significant economical power. It was interesting to see the three representatives discoursing about the different agendas of each country.

Mark Brzezinski, Ambassador of the USA said that since the whole country is not willing to ratify Kyoto, it is up to the individual cities in the USA to sign up on a voluntary basis. And when asked why Canada withdrew from the Kyoto protocol, the counsellor of the Canadian Embassy said it was because the other big ‘players’ were not in… this looks like a fox running after its tail, some whispered in the crowd.

Jonas Sjöstedt, MP at the Swedish Left Party was also part of the discussion and presented the urgency of establishing a stronger commitment between the governing countries in the North. He voiced on the importance of putting a moratorium on fossil fuel exploration in Arctic. Following by explaining that the threats of an oil spill and the consequences are not being well evaluated and would have disastrous long lasting impacts.

The session was chaired by Anna Hövenmark who was delighted to be able to inquire this diverse panel of representatives. “This is quite special to have all of you three in the same room, sitting at the same table, in my hometown” said Hövenmark. As for the audience, it is not often possible to hear about and be able to ask questions to these political figures.

A final plenary discussion with Stefan Mikaelsson from the Swedish Sami Parliament; Jonas Sjöstedt MP in Sweden; Kenneth Backgård, Agneta Granström and Mattias Karlsson, all from the County Council of Norrbotten; Helena Omma from Saminuorra; Søren Würtz from Föreningen Nordens Ungdom and Eva Vitell from Vattenfall.This was a great occasion put forth by the conference to be hearing the various opinions and future plans.

The day was not over yet and already so much had been said and discussed! After this intense full day, some fresh air was needed; so we happily trotted into the cold to join the inauguration of the Jokkmokk Winter Market, a Saami tradition since 1605 now welcoming over 40,000 people. As the sun was going down in the crisp nordic sky, the lights from the stands in the Winter Market were being lit up.

On February 1, at the Jokkmokk Winter Conference

“In Saami culture we learn by listening, looking, feeling and doing.” says Helena Omma from Laponia Management Organisation, Laponiatjuottjudus. “so when the site was created, we decided to do the same; learning by doing and being part of the management”. Thus, when their homeland in Sweden was designated as the Laponia World Heritage Site from UNESCO, local Saamis were not displaced. This was possible because it is one of the rare sites that seek to keep culture and nature as a living heritage. Laponia integrates the people and land as a whole, but really, the site is enriched because Saami people were and are caretakers of the land.

While Helena Omma and Per-Jonas Parfa are active actors in Laponia, Florence Revelin from the National Museum of Natural History in France is looking at understanding what are the various social spheres linked to a world heritage site. In the case of Laponia, how does tourism, natural resource management and local communities affects one another on a daily basis.
The nearby Laponia is a great physical analogy of this meeting; how, under the guidance of indigenous people, the northern countries can get together to shape the future horizon for the Arctic for and from the communities living in place.

“What is special of Saami culture is the hierarchy, or should I say; the lack of hierarchy.” says Isak Utsi, 20 years old, youngest member of Saminuorra . “Because in the field, when we have to make a decision regarding reindeer herding or other matters, we gather in a circle and listen to everybody”. Perhaps this meeting is this circle allowing space for creating knowledge. Leaving this meeting with our brains filled with knowledge, ideas and people; a new ‘brain-toolbox’.