This article presents research on contradictory representations of the Arctic and its inhabitants from the point of view of sustainable development. Indigenous peoples are repeatedly presented as connected to nature but outside politics, while business and state stakeholders portray the Arctic as uninhabited and utilizable for extractivism. These depictions diminish the agency of indigenous Sámi in political decision-making, agency that is integral to achieving a sustainable future both for Arctic lands and cultures. Contrary to what older generations fear, research from this decade shows that youth — who are increasingly moving to urban centers — are not necessarily leaving Sámi culture and lands. They are finding new modes of agency by transcending the discursive boundaries of periphery and center, nature and culture.

本文从可持续发展的角度对北极及其居民的矛盾表示进行了研究。土著人民一再被认为与大自然息息相关，但与政治无关，而商业和国家利益相关者则将北极描述为无人居住且可用于剥削主义。这些描述削弱了萨米土著人参与政治决策的能力，而这种能力对于实现北极土地和文化的可持续未来至关重要。与老一辈人所担心的相反，这十年的研究表明，越来越多地移居城市中心的年轻人并不一定要离开萨米文化和土地。他们正在超越边缘，中心，自然和文化的话语边界，从而找到新的代理模式。