Sami mark 50th anniversary of their Parliament in Finland
Sami in Finland marked the 50th anniversary of their Parliament on Thursday, saying it’s a testament to the progress made.
“It’s important to respect and celebrate the long history of the Sámi representative body in Finland,” Tuomas Aslak Juuso, Chairman of the Sámi Parliament in Finland said in a statement.
“Along this remarkable journey, pencils have been replaced by computer keyboards, physical meetings have been largely replaced by teleconferences, a wide range of statements have been made, negotiations have taken place and speeches have been made. What has not changed in this work are the long distances and the important work we all have to do together for the Sámi people.”
Body started out with 20 delegates
The Sami are an Arctic Indigenous people. There is no census just for Sami but their numbers are estimated to be between 100,000 to 150,000. Their traditional homeland stretches across Arctic Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia’s Kola Peninsula.
In Finland, the origins of the Sami parliament goes back to the creation of the Sami Delegation on November 9, 1973.
At the time, the delegation was made up of 20 delegates, with at least two elected from each of the four municipalities in the Sami homeland area.
Terms lasted four years.
Reidar Suomenrinne was the first chairman of the delegation. Matti Sverloff and Esko Palonoja were the vice-chairmen and Nils-Henrik Valkeapää served as secretary.
The Sami Delegation lasted until 1995, and was the predecessor to the Sami Parliament in Finland which began took over from 1996.
The Sámi Parliament in Finland advocates for Sami both nationally and internationally and puts forth suggestions, recommendations, and declarations to government bodies.
Full celebrations marking the occasion will take place in Inari on November 28.
The Sami have 12 days when their national flag is flown of which November 9 is one of them.
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