Svenska kyrkan

New report on historical land acquisitions in Sápmi

3.3.2026 15:25:09 CET | Svenska kyrkan | Press Release

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Today the Church of Sweden is presenting a church history report by Urban Claesson, Professor of Church History at Uppsala University. In Svenska kyrkan som markägare i norra Sverige (The Church of Sweden as landowner in northern Sweden), Claesson takes a deep dive into how the church came to manage land in Sápmi over the centuries.

The report takes an in-depth look at how the church came to manage land in Sápmi over the centuries.
The report takes an in-depth look at how the church came to manage land in Sápmi over the centuries.

The report shows how government decisions, agreements, purchases and donations have all played a role in the development of the church’s landholdings, and how conditions have changed over different historical eras.

The presentation is taking place in conjunction with a symposium during the Sámi Week in Umeå, where researchers are coming together to offer new perspectives on the relationship between the Church of Sweden and the Sámi community.

Time and venue

Tuesday 3 March 2026 from 4 pm – 6.40 pm

Församlingsgården, Umeå stadsförsamling (Parish hall, Umeå city parish)

Östra esplanaden 9

Participants

Maria Ågren, Professor of History, Uppsala University

Urban Claesson, Professor of Church History, Uppsala University

Gudrun Norstedt, researcher at Várdduo – Centre for Sámi Research, Umeå University

Åsa Össbo, researcher at Várdduo – Centre for Sámi Research, Umeå University

The symposium is open to all. No registration is required.

For interviews

Contact the Church of Sweden’s Press Service.

Keywords

church of sweden

Contacts

Lina BeutlerPress OfficerSvenska kyrkan

Press contact for the General Synod, church elections, church law, children/young people, diaconia, the Church of Sweden Abroad, Act Church of Sweden, minority languages.

Tel:072-543 89 09lina.beutler@svenskakyrkan.se

Images

“I find it regrettable that the situation with sources has not made it possible to obtain clearer background material, but I hope that the report can stimulate further research and that the perspectives that will be highlighted both in the report and at the symposium can make a constructive contribution to future discussions.” Urban Claesson, Professor of Church History, Uppsala University
“I find it regrettable that the situation with sources has not made it possible to obtain clearer background material, but I hope that the report can stimulate further research and that the perspectives that will be highlighted both in the report and at the symposium can make a constructive contribution to future discussions.” Urban Claesson, Professor of Church History, Uppsala University
Photo: Ulrica Hesselgren Claesson
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The report takes an in-depth look at how the church came to manage land in Sápmi over the centuries.
The report takes an in-depth look at how the church came to manage land in Sápmi over the centuries.
Download

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Church of Sweden

The Church of Sweden is a national church, open to everyone living in Sweden regardless of nationality. It is a place for church services, meetings and dialogue. The Church of Sweden is an Evangelical Lutheran church with 5,4 million members. There are 3400 churches in Sweden, and 13 dioceses.

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