Girjas case

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The Girjas case is a landmark decision of the Supreme Court of Sweden between the Girjas Sami village [sw] and the Swedish government concerning the right to issue hunting and fishing licenses within the Girjas district. The result was that while the "Swedish Reindeer Husbandry Act" did not grant the village rights to the licenses, the "possession since time immemorial" (in Swedish Urminnes hävd) did grant them the right to the licenses. The concept, according to research, was rarely used to justify the ownership of large plots of land as was the case here. Further, according to 16-17th century legislative usages, due to the abundance of land and minimal number of people, those who took care of the land were considered the de facto owners.