Four Sami villages in Lapland have filed lawsuits against the state, seeking exclusive rights to manage small game hunting and fishing above the cultivation line.

This action follows the 2020 Supreme Court ruling in the Girjas case, which granted similar rights to the Girjas Sami village.

The four villages—Ran, Sirges, Unna Tjerusj, and Baste—argue that this ruling should apply to all Sami villages in Lapland.

Despite a state committee agreeing with this conclusion, no legal changes have been proposed.

The Sami villages believe litigation is the only path to securing their rights and ensuring sustainable management of natural resources.