Confronting the Norwegian Paradox

Abstract

The thesis describes the development of the oil and gas industry in Arctic Norway. This sudden increase in wealth is causing urban developments and strong inequalities across different scales. Furthermore, it is causing friction between indigenous Sámi and non-indigenous worldviews, sustained within the culturally fragile county of Finnmark. The role of the Norwegian state is notably dubious - both historically and presently – by instating policies aimed at development through a modern lens and wealth from oil and gas extraction – especially in the city of Hammerfest. The fixation of space through this concept is disinheriting indigenous people as well as the climate, landscape and socio-economic state of Finnmark. Reindeer herders have a different conceptualization of time and space, accumulated through centuries of observation and adaptions to the seasonal cycles, and is highly dependent on the flexibility for their herds. Conflicts arise due to increasing urbanization impeding Sámi movement, creating a socio-territorial paradox. Strong uncertainties arise: will the oil and gas industry continue as planned by the Norwegian state? How does this relate to the vulnerable path-dependent relationship with the fossil industry in the future? Will development on the mainland further impede the ability of traditional practices? Through an understanding of different temporalities within urban planning and indigenous herding knowledge, the argument of the thesis unfolds over an in-depth spatiotemporal and on-site analysis of the island of Kvaløya. I argue that the triangulation of spatial modeling, research by design, cinematographic strategies and the integration of indigenous knowledge can help in improving the agency of mapping. I argue that the we should look more critically at the role of the modus operandi of urbanists and decision-makers, in their capacity of influencing and shaping the conceptual framework on which decision making is based, especially in the highly uncertain and contested territories. The thesis then moves towards a possible way forward by integrating the (indigenous) knowledge into scenario construction through transtemporal and transscalar mapping and 3d modelling. I end by arguing that the incorporation of both practical and conceptual knowledge of the territory and the ability to share and communicate this knowledge between academics, practitioners and stakeholders is critical to confront this uncertainty. The flexible and adaptive knowledge of indigenous people could therefore help into planning and decision-making processes. This will help to foster trust and build consensus among indigenous and non-indigenous participants for future decision-making. Ultimately it is a tool for (co-)creating awareness, action and allowing space for Sámi agency.