A proposed iron mine in northern Sweden has raised concerns about its impact on the indigenous Sami people and their cultural heritage. The Kallak mine, located in the Lule Sami region, has been under discussion since 2006. The British company Beowulf plans to extract 9 million tons of iron ore annually for about 15 years. The project would cover an area of 80 square kilometers and involve infrastructure such as roads, railways, and possibly a pipeline and dam. Although the company has faced protests and financial issues, it has received approval from Swedish authorities, who label the mine a "national interest." Before construction can begin, the company must produce an environmental impact study. Local communities, activists, and Sami groups have strongly opposed the mine, citing threats to ancient forests, rare wildlife, and traditional gathering areas. The project is also seen as a major threat to reindeer herding, a practice that has been central to the Sami people’s way of life for centuries in the Arctic region known as Sápmi. Jan Erik Läntta, a reindeer herder and former leader of the Jåhkågaska tjiellde community, warned that the mine would split their traditional migration routes, leading to increased costs and conflicts. He expressed concern that these challenges might discourage younger generations from continuing the tradition of reindeer herding. The proposed mine has also drawn attention to the protected status of the Lapland region, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Covering 940,000 hectares, the area includes mountains, boreal forests, and peat bogs. UNESCO granted the site its status in 1996 due to its "exceptional universal value," particularly the reindeer herding tradition. However, the agency has urged Sweden not to approve the mine, citing inadequate measures to protect the Sami people's way of life. Henrik Blind, mayor of Jokkmokk and a member of the Green Party, emphasized the cultural importance of the region and the need to preserve Sami heritage. He expressed concern over the rise of right-wing political groups advocating for more mining and reduced rights for Sami reindeer herders. Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch has proposed reducing reindeer herding and removing its "national interest" status to boost the extraction of "critical resources" for EU and NATO defense. Eva Forsgren, president of Amnesty Sápmi, criticized the threats against the Sami as "green colonialism," linking them to a history of colonial practices, forced religious conversion, and mining in the region. Tor Tuorda, an environmental activist and local Sami, shared his personal experience of being denied the right to raise reindeer under the 1928 Sami law, which restricted his ability to live, hunt, or fish in the natural areas of Sápmi.