The Finnish Defense Forces have proposed the construction of a new road connection between Kuttura village, situated in Lapland, the northernmost region of Finland, and Pokka road. According to the General Staff, the new road is necessary to improve the transport network in Lapland and is of national security importance.
The construction of a new road connection in Inari between Kuttura village and Pokka road is causing controversy. National security and the Sámi's traditional livelihoods are at odds. Map of Northern Lapland Poka tie. The new road in Kuttura would be approximately 20 kilometres long. It would split the vast wilderness in half and stop the grazing cycle of the reindeer. Photo: Tommi Pylkkö / Yle
The Finnish Defence Forces have provided input to the Confederation of Lapland, which is developing a new transport strategy. Finland's Transport and Communications Minister Lulu Ranne states that the Ministry has a comprehensive understanding with the Defence Forces regarding the necessary repairs and renovations to infrastructure in Lapland.
According to Ranne, the matter is progressing one step at a time. In her opinion, funding has been received for Lapland's roads. As an example, he mentions the road VT 21 in Käsivarsi area. In addition, there has been discussion about renovating the Pokka road between Hanhimaa and Inari.
I have also brought up the renovation of Pokka road in that plenary session, but let's go one step at a time. We have a common understanding between the government and the Defense Forces about what needs to be done. Money and schedules will of course be looked at together.
According to Transport and Communications Minister Lulu Ranne, the government listens with a sensitive ear to the wishes of the Defense Forces in the development of the road network. According to Ranne, it is about national security and security of supply. Photo: Antro Valo / Yle
Minister Ranne does not take a direct position on the construction of the Kuttura–Repojoki road, but emphasizes that the needs of the Defense Forces are important in the current security policy situation.
Regarding the civilian and military targets of the Defense Forces, there is a constant discussion and the needs are updated.
According to the minister, it is too early to say which sites will be renovated and in what way.
The Pokka road between Kittilä and Inari, which is in poor condition in some places, is also an important destination for the Defense Forces. It is written into the traffic strategy that it would be upgraded from a regional road to a main road between Köngäs and Inari.
The Sámi parliament opposes the construction of the road leading from Kuttura to Repojoki, because it would threaten the reindeer husbandry of cooperatives (Finnish – paliskunta) of reindeer herdsmen of Sallivaara and Hammastunturi.
Sámi parliament otherwise does not support the construction of new roads in important wilderness areas. Few wilderness areas have been preserved in the north, and nature should not be ruined by infrastructure projects, according to the Sámi parliamentarians.
According to Pirita Näkkäläjärvi, the chairman of the Sámi parliament, security issues are very important in today's world. The Sámi parliament hopes that solutions to security of supply issues will be found by improving the existing roads.
For example, the repair of Pokka road between Inari and Könkä is supported by everyone, including the Sámi parliament, stated Näkkäläjärvi.
Pirita Näkkäläjärvi, chairman of the Sámi assemblies, says that the reindeer herding of Sallivaara and Hammastunturi cooperatives is threatened if a road is built from Kuttura to Repojoki. Photo: Susanna Guttorm / Yle
According to Sámi councilors, the wilderness area is important for reindeer husbandry, but also for other Sámi traditional livelihoods, such as hunting, fishing, gathering and handicrafts.
Last time, when the road from Kuttura to Repojoki was planned, the address opposing the road received 5,000 names. Natural values are important to people and, for example, tourists come to Finland especially because of that, said Näkkäläjärvi.
She considers it problematic that the matter came up through the media.
It is highly controversial that the Sámi people read the plan for the new Kuttura–Repojoki road in a newspaper. We only got official information about the road plan in an article by Lapin Kansa, said Näkkäläjärvi.
Iisko-Henrik Näkkäläjärvi, the reindeer herder of the Sallivaara cooperative, considers building a new road through the wilderness area a bad option, even though the Finnish Defense Forces considers the road important in terms of security of supply.
It cannot be accepted even in this world situation. Here is an already existing road from Pokka to Inari. If it were repaired, it would certainly be more useful than a new road.
The cooperative of reindeer herdsmen of Sallivaara had already opposed the road when it last appeared fifteen years ago and still opposes it today.
When you think about the Sallivaara cooperative autumn pastures, they are our most important areas, and the new road will cut off the pasture cycle there. The cooperative view is definitely that there is no way to do that.
Source: Yle (in Finnish)
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