Draft:Alta conflict
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The Alta conflict[1] or Alta controversy [Altasaken] refers to a series of protest campaigns in Norway lasting from 1979-1981, led by Sami reindeer herders against the Norwegian government's proposed construction of a hydroelectric power plant on the Alta River in Finnmark, Northern Norway.
In the 1970s(when exactly), the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Administration (Norges vassdrags- og energidirektorat, or NVE ), with the support of the Norwegian state, made plans to flood a remote area in northern Norway that included two Sami villages.[2] This news generated unrest in the surrounding area of Alta and protests against the state and the NVE were organized by Samis of Mazi and drew both support and opposition from Norwegians in nearby towns.[2]
The local Samis were concerned that their traditional culture and vocation would be harmed if a dam destroyed their land and forced them to relocate.[2] These concerns were not shared by the Norwegian state in the 1970s and no official recognition at this point had been given to Sami language, culture, or political structures.[3] The ensuing public debates and protests of 1978-81 highlighted the incompatibility of contemporary Sami lifestyles with the resource development goals of mid-century Norway.[2] Ultimately, the dam’s construction proceeded, albeit with modifications intended to respond Sami concerns.[4] In spite of the dam's approval, the controversy is seen as a watershed moment for recognition of Sami as an Indigenous group in Norway, and a catalyst for future legislation intended to formalize and protect their rights.[4]