Utoo Radio with Other News Sources - September 16, 2024 - Reindeer herders in Northern Sweden have faced new challenges in the past century, as the Saami, Europe's only indigenous people, have given up their nomadic lifestyle and settled down.

The Saami have been primarily based on following the path of the reindeer, which migrates hundreds of kilometers annually.

However, the Swedish government has suppressed the Saami for years, treating them as second-class citizens.

The fragmentation of land has led to the need for sustainable herding methods and protection of endangered species.

The Swedish government and Saami have agreed to limit the number of reindeers, but the herders have lost large tracts of pastures due to commercial forestry. Many forest owners do not want the reindeer in their forests, and a lack of clear boundaries has led to lawsuits against the Saami.

The Saami have also faced environmental implications, with thousands of reindeer killed by natural predators every year.

To protect their stock, the Saami resort to shooting bears, lynx, and wolves, which is seen as poaching by law. Despite these conflicts, the Saami's ability to adapt to changing conditions without losing their identity is a characteristic characteristic of their culture.