http://www.do.se/contentassets/5ad9f5ea04bf4aedb943cf84e1562240/rapport-discrimination-sami.pdf
Historical background
Historian Leonard Lundmark says that Sweden’s, or more properly the
Crown’s, early dealings with the Sami are closely linked to the conquest
of Norrland in the 14th century when colonisation began in earnest. It was
during the 14th and 15th centuries that the Crown began to levy taxes on
the Sami.40 Lundmark also points out that in the 16th century the State’s
Sami policy was characterised by an increased interest in the riches of the
Lappmark (Samiland).
This levy was increased still further during the 17th century and the
State strengthened its control of the Sami and the Lappmark in other
ways as well.42 In the 1630s the State “discovered” the first silver deposit
in Nasafjäll, northwest of Arjeplog. Lundmark describes how Sami
were forcibly recruited to transport the ore to Piteå since reindeer were
indispensable to its transportation. Since the wages paid were not sufficient
to live on, the Sami found themselves facing a crisis. Some were forced to
turn to begging, others fled to Norway or further north in Sweden.
Sami that owned reindeer were forced to enlarge their herds to be able to
survive under the heavy tax burden.43
In the latter half of the 17th century the State began to colonise Sami land
more actively. Lundmark describes how the State tried to attract settlers
from the south and the coast by introducing a 15-year exemption from
taxes. However, because of the wars this tax exemption did not have the
desired effect.
In the mid-1800s the Swedish anthropologist Anders Retzius developed a
method for measuring craniums in order to classify people into different
categories. Both authorities and researchers conducted skull measurements
on a large scale. Researchers not only measured living Sami, but also
dug up and plundered Sami graves.48 Sami remains and artefacts from
this period can still be found in various Swedish State collections.49 Race
biology was popular in Sweden and in 1920 a unanimous Parliament
decided to establish the world’s first state institute for race biology in
Uppsala.50
Historical background
Historian Leonard Lundmark says that Sweden’s, or more properly the
Crown’s, early dealings with the Sami are closely linked to the conquest
of Norrland in the 14th century when colonisation began in earnest. It was
during the 14th and 15th centuries that the Crown began to levy taxes on
the Sami.40 Lundmark also points out that in the 16th century the State’s
Sami policy was characterised by an increased interest in the riches of the
Lappmark (Samiland).
This levy was increased still further during the 17th century and the
State strengthened its control of the Sami and the Lappmark in other
ways as well.42 In the 1630s the State “discovered” the first silver deposit
in Nasafjäll, northwest of Arjeplog. Lundmark describes how Sami
were forcibly recruited to transport the ore to Piteå since reindeer were
indispensable to its transportation. Since the wages paid were not sufficient
to live on, the Sami found themselves facing a crisis. Some were forced to
turn to begging, others fled to Norway or further north in Sweden.
Sami that owned reindeer were forced to enlarge their herds to be able to
survive under the heavy tax burden.43
In the latter half of the 17th century the State began to colonise Sami land
more actively. Lundmark describes how the State tried to attract settlers
from the south and the coast by introducing a 15-year exemption from
taxes. However, because of the wars this tax exemption did not have the
desired effect.
In the mid-1800s the Swedish anthropologist Anders Retzius developed a
method for measuring craniums in order to classify people into different
categories. Both authorities and researchers conducted skull measurements
on a large scale. Researchers not only measured living Sami, but also
dug up and plundered Sami graves.48 Sami remains and artefacts from
this period can still be found in various Swedish State collections.49 Race
biology was popular in Sweden and in 1920 a unanimous Parliament
decided to establish the world’s first state institute for race biology in
Uppsala.50
