Ilma Lindgren 1883-1957

She was a Finnish merchant and legal campaigner. Between 1914 and 1920, Lindgren fought a long legal battle over the right to pick berries and won his case before the Finnish Supreme Court in February 1920, a decision that gave legal confirmation to the right to roam the forests and pick berries. We could see this struggle as an eco-feminist fight for the right of the commons.

Lindgren’s trial against the landowner was an important part of the development of everyone’s rights in Finland, as it resulted in a significant precedent decision in favour of everyone’s rights. Due to the persistent legal struggle of a widowed woman from South Karelia, picking berries and mushrooms is still allowed in Finland without the landowner’s permission. The court decision, which was reported in the press of the time, also increased awareness of everyone’s rights in Finland and contributed to the possibility of diverse use of forests.