The indigenous Sami population has been trying to preserve their way of life and culture by protesting against the creation of an iron mine in northern Sweden. The project belongs to the British company Beowulf Mines.

The police was called last Wednesday (21) to end a blockade of around 50 people, among locals and Sami. Eight people were detained for crimes varying from resisting arrest to trespassing.

One protester said, during the blockade:

It really shows how the system works. Police come and protect the companies with any force necessary. They don’t respect that we have another opinion and they treat us this way that you are seeing now.

According to the project, the mine would be situated 50km from the town of Jokkmokk, on the Arctic Circle. The problem is that this little city is located in the heart of Sami lands. This indigenous group is said to have settled in northern Scandinavia at the end of the last ice age. Now, the place they call home and where they portray their traditions can be destroyed.

Via euronews.com