The Samebys organize the reindeer herders

A sameby is not a village and not collection of huts on a mountain - it is more complex than that. It is a financial and administrative union that is regulated by law. There are 51 samebys in Sweden, from Idre in Dalarna to Könkäma in Norrbotten.

According to the Reindeer Husbandry Act, the right to conduct reindeer herding in Sweden belongs to the Sami population. However, in order to exercise this right, it is necessary to be a member of a sameby. Of all the Sami in Sweden, only around 10% are members of a sameby.

A sameby is an extensive area, often stretching from the inland forest areas to the mountains on the Norwegian border. The sameby areas consequently follow the reindeer's (mountain reindeer's) annual migration from forest to mountain.

A sameby is both an economic association and a specific geographical area. Its members are entitled to engage in reindeer husbandry in this area. In certain parts of this area, they also have fishing and hunting rights. They are also entitled to erect cabins and facilities for reindeer husbandry, as well as to take trees from the forest for fuel and timber for household requirements and handicrafts.

The reindeer herding entitlement is founded on the concept of `ancient claims', i.e. that they have hunted, fished and used the reindeer pasture since time immemorial. The rules governing the samebys are regulated in the Reindeer Husbandry Act. (http://www.samer.se)

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