meahcci luondo
Exploring the commons
representations of Finnmark's resources through the concept of landscape
Eimear Tynan
EXPLORING THE COMMONS
Finnmark has for centuries been a land of migrants and settlers. Today this land or territory is undergoing dramatic change due to the interest in its natural resources. This, however, is impacting on the way in which people engage and relate to the landscape. There are many participants or actors that play a role in the present and future of Finnmark- each making their mark and each having an impact. The image below may be seen as a metaphor for these impacts- a canvas that is interrupted with a pattern that attempts to imitate its context but in doing so destroys the whole. I feel it is crucial to understand the perceptions of each participant towards the territory in which they are a part of or associated with. One must understand that Finnmark is not one common ground but a complex combination of several commons. The title of this study is Meahcci /Luondo. They are both Sámi words; Meahcci is “related to movement and use and is connected with what the land may offer in a specific location. Meahcci moreover connects land and peoples”. Luondo can be described as “abstract nature that exists independent of whether one uses it or not”1. This study will first outline the main participants of Finnmark's commons and the conflicts that have occured between them. The second part will begin to distinguish how each participant represents and depicts the “landscapes” they are associated with. Similarities and differences will emerge through analysing the visuals and the linguistics used. In a market-oriented world I expect to find similar visual styles and languages used but I hope to find a truth that reflects a multifaceted territory that connects to its people and not just its resources . What is valued in these territories?
Sean Scully Untitled 1993 1
G.Ween & M. Lien (2012) Decolonization in the Arctic? Nature Practices and Land Rights in the Norwegian High North
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MAPPING THE ACTION ARENA OF FINNMARK - the participants and their related conflicts
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CONFLICTS
Environment
Energy
Social
Culture
Economy
Representations of landscape through the participants' resources The range of resources in Finnmark is very broad and is increasingly drawing interest globally. Adapting to the scale of interest requires careful planning and management in order to maintain the core values of Finnmark. But what are the core values of Finnmark? And who decides on what is valuable or worthless in a place? The focus of this study is the representation of landscape through visuals and language. The analysis will merely begin to uncover what individuals, communities, companies and authorities perceive as valuable in their landscape. However: ...it should not be forgotten that a representation is no more than a partial truth; representations are susceptible, for example, to social and cultural discrimination M. Jones and K. Olwig Nordic Landscapes 2008
Depictions of Finnmark from just four participants of this territory.
To be continued...