Sami people north of Arctic Circle, Norway. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Sweden, Norway and Finland have long and systematically violated the rights of the Sámi, the most numerous indigenous people of Northern Europe, who lived here long before the ancestors of modern Swedes, Norwegians and Finns migrated to the territory of Sápmi. The common desire of the authorities of all three “democratic” states was the forced assimilation of the Sámi, a policy that ended only in the early 1990s under pressure from international institutions. Despite this, various forms of the Sámi discrimination have survived to this day. The editorial board of ArcticToday published a series of articles on this topic.
The Sámi Truth And Reconciliation Commission’s Report
The Sámi Truth and Reconciliation Commission (STRC), established in 2021, will submit its final report to Prime Minister Petteri Orpo at the end of the year.
The final report of the Sámi Truth and Reconciliation Commission compiles the hearings and proposals for actions that can strengthen trust between the state and the Sámi. According to Chairwoman of the STRC Hannele Pokka, this is not a decision, but a new beginning.
In the early stages of the work of the Sámi Truth and Reconciliation Commission, there was distrust in Sámi communities. According to Pokka, disputes such as the Arctic Ocean railway and the fact that only reconciliation was talked about, not the truth, increased suspicions about the state’s motives.
Quite a lot of Sámi people had distrust as to whether the state was really serious, or whether this was a project where they apologized and that was it.
As the hearings progressed, the atmosphere changed and trust began to build.
At first, only a few people came, but at the end there was a rush when we announced that the hearings were now ending. In that respect, I feel that trust was achieved, Pokka says.
Sámi Experiences Emerge In The Hearings
Over four hundred Sámi people from different parts of the country participated in the hearings. About a quarter of the hearings were held in Northern, Inari and Skolt Sámi regions.
Many spoke about the actions of the authorities and the mistakes of the legislation. The stories of the loss of the language and its recovery touched Pokka deeply.
There have been many things there that have made an impression and that have left a lot to think about. It is confusing that although Finland has not had a similar policy of forced Norwegianization and forced Swedishization from the legislative side as in Norway and Sweden, in practice the same path has been followed here, Pokka states.
Psychosocial Support Helped In Dealing With Trauma
The most profound stories were obtained in the Sámi-language interviews. Uvja, a low-threshold Sámi mental health service, provided support.
The Sámi Parliament’s absolute requirement was that when people talk about decades of trauma that they have never talked about before, it is essential that there is such psychosocial support, where people can then talk about these issues with professionals, Pokka says.
Not all the stories were gloomy.
Many have shared stories of coping in difficult circumstances, Pokka reminds us.
The continuation of Uvja’s operations requires support from the state. There is still money for next year, but according to Pokka, a new budget commitment is needed so that the service can continue.
Information And Research Create The Basis For The Report
The report also relies on 21 separate reports, which discuss, among other things, Sámi languages, climate change and livelihoods.
The reports provide the commission’s work with a scientific basis and facts. They are an easy starting point for us when we think about proposals for measures to the state, Pokka says.
According to Pokka, this is already a unique information package about the Sámi – and it is freely available to researchers.
The Right To Self-determination Strengthened, Land And Water Rights Disputes Continue
The new Sámi Parliament Act secures the Sámi community’s right to self-determination.
Of course, it strengthens the basis of our work, that we do not need to make proposals, that this issue has not yet been resolved, Pokka says with satisfaction.
On the other hand, the ratification of ILO Convention 169 has not progressed. ILO 169 is an International Labour Organization convention that protects the rights of indigenous peoples and obliges states to consult them before making decisions that affect their lives.
According to Pokka, the Parliament has still avoided any connection with land and water rights issues, even though they come up again and again in the work of the Commission.
Traditional and new industries, such as reindeer herding, mining and tourism, collide in the Sámi region and throughout Lapland, Pokka says.
The revised Sámi Parliament Act has sought to clarify the authorities’ obligation to cooperate and negotiate.
“Actions are required from the state” - reconciliation does not come about through words.
The reception of the report excites Pokka.
Almost as much as the discussion of the Sámi Parliament Act, she admits.
According to Pokka, the church’s apology in May was a significant gesture.
Recognition Of Discrimination Against The Sámi By The Church
On May 8, Archbishop Tapio Luoma acknowledged the injustices committed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church against the Sámi and apologized to the Sámi on behalf of the church on Thursday in Turku.
The difficult past of the church and the Sámi stretches back centuries. Since the Middle Ages, the church has destroyed the ancient culture of the Sámi, for example by burning Sámi drums and punishing those who practice old traditions.
From the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries until World War II, Finnish and foreign researchers, with the permission of the church, dug up the remains of the Sámi dead from their graves for racial biological research.
In his speech, the Archbishop admitted that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland has not respected the national identity or culture of the Sámi.
By participating in the actions of the state and our society, we have supported the assimilation of the Sámi into the majority population and the suppression of their language and culture. We have acted in ways that have caused the Sámi people to hide and even be ashamed of their own culture and identity, Archbishop Luoma said in his speech.
It Is Not Enough For The State
A mere apology is of no use without proper measures. Actions are also required from the state. These will determine whether this path to reconciliation is in sight, emphasizes Pokka.
She hopes that the report will increase awareness of the Sámi as an indigenous people.
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.
According to Pokka, the final report tells for the first time how the Sámi have experienced the actions of society.
Reading this would be good for all of us.
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