Reindeer tag. Silje Karine Muotka and the Norwegian Sámi Association (also known as NSR) won the elections to the Sámi Parliament (Sámediggi) in 2021. Photo: NSR
Silje Karine Muotka, the President of the Sámi Parliament in Norway, is strongly opposed to the state administrator in Troms and Finnmark for his failure to process reindeer tag applications for the past five years.
It is totally unacceptable, and I understand that people who are waiting to have their reindeer tag applications approved react to this, says the Sámi Parliament president in a press release.
Nina Karita Eira and Elle Márjá Eira are both involved in reindeer herding in Norway. In 2019, Nina Karita Eira applied for reindeer tags for her son, but five years later she has not received them. Likewise, Elle Márjá Eira applied in 2021, with the same outcome.
The state administration for Troms and Finnmark notes that they have approx. 280 unprocessed applications for reindeer tags, because they have prioritized other matters over tag applications. The President of the Sámi Parliament is expressing concern about the government's treatment of reindeer herding, citing potential violations of the Administrative Act, thus also hindering the well-being of reindeer herders and their industry. She is determined to address this issue to ensure that the state administration takes the necessary steps to rectify the situation.I would like to request a meeting with the state administrator, and also with central authorities who have a duty to supervise that the Public Administration Act is followed up, concludes Muotka.
Photo: Privat bilde.
Nina Karita Eira is experiencing a frustrating process in trying to secure a reindeer tag for her son. Despite initially receiving the tag in 2019, it was subsequently given to someone else, and her subsequent applications have been met with delays and a lack of communication. She applied in the spring of 2022 again, but received a reply that the hearing would take a year, and that a result will be known in August 2023. Nothing has been heard of the matter since.
In Sámi forestry areas, reindeer are required to be marked with registered ear tags before 31 October of the same year they were born.
Before a new ear tag can be adopted, it must be approved by the Trademark Committee. Trademark committees are a regional body which oversee the use of trademarks in reindeer herding, and its primary function is to ensure that all ear tags used in the region are unique. The state administrator serves as the secretary of the Trademark Committee.
Nina Karita Eira marks the reindeer. Photo: Private.
The processing of reindeer ear tag applications in Troms and Finnmark seems to be challenging. According to Torhild Gjølme, the acting director of reindeer husbandry in the region, the delay in processing mark applications is due to the prioritization of other matters.
Acting Director of Reindeer Husbandry, Governor of Troms and Finnmark, Torhild Gjølme at the office. Photo: Harry Johansen.
Torhild Gjølme is acknowledging the challenges that the department has been facing, which have led to the delay in processing trademark applications. She mentions that the department has had to deal with other significant things, and as a result, other tasks, such as processing trademark applications, have been put on the backburner.
There are about 280 trademark applications that have not been processed yet. Gjølme tells NRK that they have many applications and their processing takes a long time. Now she says that they intend to prioritize children's applications.
Likewise, Elle Márja Eira has been waiting for a long time for a response to her application for reindeer marks for her son, which she submitted in 2021. The application has gone unanswered. She emphasizes that a reindeer mark is closely tied to a person's identity, which underscores the importance of these marks beyond just being a practical tool for identifying ownership.
Well, I've started thinking about whether I should contact the department to find out what is wrong here. I don't think it is normal that when you get something, you write an application and have to wait for an answer for many years. He has just received a letter from the Governor that they may look into this matter next year.
This can indeed take many years, and it's possible that a child may be grown up before receiving their reindeer mark.
He is a confirmant next year and it is very surprising that he does not have a mark, because it is a big and important part of our life. That is your identity and it is so important to you, says Elle Márjá Eira.
Based on: NRK Sapmi (14.08.2024), NRK Sapmi (10.08.2024)
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