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Indigenous | Climate Change

Climate change threatens traditional Sami lifestyle

Indigenous people around the world are facing the onslaught of the climate crisis, and the challenges to a number of smaller pacific nations are well documented.

The Sami people are just one of many iwi impacted. They were once a semi-nomadic nation inhabiting the northern reaches of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia.

Their best-known means of livelihood is reindeer herding. However, their traditional lifestyle is being seriously affected by the climate crisis.

Sami activist and council representative, Jannie Staffansson spoke to Te Ao with Moana to delve deeper into the crisis.

Staffanson says climate change will lead to more droughts and widespread forest fires, while impacting water levels, water patterns and crops.