Rights, cooperation decisions to drive Sámi Parliamentary Council’s next term
Financing and strengthening Sámi rights in Europe, including establishing a Secretariat, were among the key decisions at the most recent Sámi Parliamentary Council (SPN) plenary, held this month in Inari, Finland.
The meeting also marked the handover of the rotating chairmanship from the Sámi Parliament in Finland to the Sámi Parliament in Norway, which will hold the position for the next 16 months.
“[A secretariat] would strengthen our opportunities to promote common priorities for the Sámi people efficiently and effectively,” Pirita Näkkäläjärvi, outgoing chair of the SPN and chair of the Finnish Sámi Parliament said in a statement.
“The Sámi people have a lot to contribute to, for example, joint Nordic policy. Establishing a secretariat would require a commitment to permanent funding from the governments of Finland, Norway and Sweden.”
The SPN is a body made up of the Sámi Parliaments of Norway, Sweden, and Finland, as well as Sámi organizations from Russia. The council’s main job is to strengthen cooperation among Sámi regardless of the country they live in with a focus on cultural preservation, land rights, and political representation.
The body also helps coordinate projects between the Sámi Parliaments and works on elections and strengthening Sámi governance.
Election list turmoil to be examined
Improving the SPN’s administration was one of the main focuses of the meeting.
Secure funding and organizing the council’s activities was a focus on the Sámi Parliament in Finland’s leadership in 2024. The Norwegian chairmanship plans to continue this work, which includes prioritizing the establishment of a secretariat.
Financial support from the governments of Finland, Norway, and Sweden would be required to go ahead with the project, but would help streamline operations, a news release from the Sami Parliament in Finland said.
The council also discussed the creation of a joint Sámi appeals body to address concerns related to electoral lists for Sámi Parliaments in the Nordic countries.
The body has asked the three Sámi Parliaments were asked to further investigate the idea and report back to the SPN.
Attracting more youth
Getting more young Sami involved in governance was another item discussed, with the council pledging to continue fostering opportunities for young Sámi people to be involved in decision-making.
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Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Former candidates call to improve elections for Indigenous voters in Quebec, CBC News
Finland: Sami leader says recent Finnish court ruling was ‘devastating’ & violation of autonomy, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Finnish Court annuls 2023 Sámi elections, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Land use rights a key issue in this year’s Sami parliamentary elections in Sweden, Radio Sweden
