Finnmark Act
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The Finnmark Act (Norwegian: Finnmarksloven) of 2005 transferred about 96% (about 46,000 km2) of the area in the Finnmark county in Norway to the inhabitants of Finnmark.[1] This area is managed by the Finnmark Estate agency.
The Finnmark Estate is managed by a board of directors with six members. Three of these are appointed by the
Background
The background for the Finnmark Act is the Sámi people's fight for their rights to manage their land and culture. In 1978 the
The Sámi rights to lands, waters and resources were strengthened after 1990, when Norway recognized the Sámi as an
Purpose
Traditionally the Norwegian authorities had a view that the nomadic Sámi use of land, water and natural resources did not establish any formal legal rights. The basis for the Finnmark act is that "the Sámis, through protracted traditional use of the land and water areas, have acquired individual and/or collective ownership and right to use lands and waters in Finnmark County."
The Finnmark act attempts to strengthen the Sámi rights, by giving the entire population of Finnmark greater influence of the property in the county. However, the act does not cover fishing rights in saltwater, mining, or oil rights.
An important element of the act is discussion and recognition of existing rights of use and ownership of land. For this purpose a commission and tribunal have been set up. The foundation of this work is the principles of established custom and immemorial usage. (ibid.)
See also
References
- ISSN 0080-6757.