Pursuing a policy of militarisation, the Finnish government is increasing military spending while simultaneously cutting funding for social needs, primarily healthcare in the rapidly aging country, and other social services.
The Arctic Century’s analysis on the topic addresses critical issues pertaining to the Sámi:
- Norway, Finland and Sweden have long had a bad reputation at the UN for systematic violations of the rights of the Sámi, the country’s indigenous people living in their northern provinces. About countering Racism Against Sámi People in Sweden
- Inka Kangasniemi, one of the members elected to the Sámi Parliament in 2024, made a public statement about violations of the voting procedure in the previous elections in October 2023. Trying to Discredit the Sámi Parliament in Finland
- Finns don’t know much about the Sámi, because history books and school teaching don’t tell us much about them. The information about the Sámi comes mainly from sketch shows. About reconciliation Between The Sami And The Finnish State
One of the victims of Petteri Orpo’s unpopular and ineffective far-right government in 2026 could be the Sámi, the only indigenous people in the Finnish Arctic. On December 9, the Finnish Sámi Parliament sharply criticised the planned cuts to healthcare and social services.’
The Sámi Parliament demands the safeguarding of Sámi-speaking and Sámi homeland health and social services.
The plans for the service network of the Lapland wellbeing services county will significantly affect the well-being and health of the Sámi population and the opportunities to maintain and develop their own language and culture. Negotiations with the wellbeing services county in accordance with Section 9 of the Sámi Parliament Act will continue from early 2026 before a decision is made.
The Lapland wellbeing services county published a draft of changes to the service network on 22 October 2025 as part of the economic adjustment measures. The draft proposes, among other things, replacing the 24-hour emergency service in Ivalo with an emergency reception, discontinuing the inpatient ward in Muonio, and tailoring services in the villages.
“We want to ensure that the Sámi-speaking and Sámi homeland health and social services will be maintained. We at the Sámi Parliament have therefore sought to influence the matter in many ways so that these vital services are secured,” says Tuomas Aslak Juuso, Deputy Chairman of the Sámi Parliament.
The Sámi Parliament has participated in the public debate on the matter by taking a position on 22 October 2025, by writing an opinion on 5 November 2025, and by issuing a joint statement with the municipalities of Enontekiö, Inari, Muonio and Utsjoki. In addition, the special assistants of Prime Minister Orpo and Minister of Local Government and Regional Affairs Ikonen have met with the municipalities on 27 November 2025 on the subject.
The Sámi Parliament Board discussed the matter at its meeting on 19 November 2025 and approved the Sámi Parliament’s statement on the changes to the service network.
The Sámi Parliament called for the protection of health and social services in the Sámi-speaking and Sámi-homeland areas, and pointed out that the Sámi Parliament does not accept the closure of the Muonio inpatient ward or the 24-hour emergency service in Ivalo. The Sámi Parliament asked the Lapland Wellbeing services county to abandon plans that would further weaken the implementation of Sámi-speaking services.
In addition, a more comprehensive impact assessment was requested from the wellbeing services county before making a decision and the obligations of the Sámi Parliament Act were reminded.
The Sámi Parliament has previously criticised the Lapland wellbeing services county for not involving the Sámi Parliament in the preparation process for changes to the service network. The Lapland wellbeing services county invited the Sámi Parliament to a negotiation in accordance with Section 9 of the Sámi Parliament Act, which was held on 25 November 2025.
The negotiation discussed, among other things, the conditions for negotiation. During the negotiations, the Lapland wellbeing services county announced that decisions regarding the service network will not be made until early 2026. The cooperation and negotiation process between the Sámi Parliament and the Lapland wellbeing services county will continue in early 2026 before decision-making.
Source: Sámediggi (in Finnish)