Saamelaiskäräjien puheenjohtaja Tuomas Aslak Juuso.

The Sámi Parliament is disappointed with the decision of the Constitutional Law Committee – the Constitutional Law Committee has stopped handling of the Sámi Parliament Act

The Constitutional Law Committee of the Parliament of Finland has stopped handling of the Sámi Parliament Act, which is unlikely to proceed to a vote in a plenary session of Parliament. The intention of the legislative reform was to promote the realisation of the right of self-determination of the Sámi people and to also reform outdated voting practices, for instance.

Saamelaiskäräjien puheenjohtaja Tuomas Aslak Juuso.
President Tuomas Aslak Juuso. Photo: Johanna Alatorvinen / The Sámi Parliament.

The Sámi Parliament is disappointed with the decision, although this could be expected as handling was prolonged to the final moments of the electoral period. President Tuomas Aslak Juuso is especially surprised at the Constitutional Law Committee, which the Sámi Parliament hoped would be a non-political body. It should issue statements on bills to be considered in relation to how they adapt to the Constitution of Finland and to international conventions on human rights.

– I wonder how the outcome can be like this. Even the main messages of experts on fundamental rights during hearings and in statements clearly supported the bill in terms of its factual content. Unfortunately it appears that in this matter, political games took control of the Constitutional Law Committee instead of principles that steer its activity. It is regrettable that some Members of Parliament resorted to objecting to the bill for ostensible reasons, President Juuso states.

The Constitutional Law Committee voted to stop handling the bill by referring to schedule-related reasons, which baffles President Juuso.

– In this case, the Constitutional Law Committee has acted in accordance with timetables it has set, and thus it has also failed when it ran out of time. Apparently the Committee has not progressed early enough from a general level to an internal discussion, President Juuso remarks.

President Juuso is grateful to Prime Minister Sanna Marin and to Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson for bringing the matter to this point. He pleads with them and the entire Government of Finland that if they still have an opportunity to bring the Act to a vote, they should seize on it.

– This bill is a strong compromise, prepared over several years that provides a fair response to Finnish obligations. The Executive Board of the Sámi Parliament tried to find solutions for promoting the bill up to the last minute. Still, it is evident that handling of the matter will not become any easier in the future if handling of this bill now ends here, President Juuso comments.

Efforts to reform the Sámi Parliament Act have continued for more than a decade

Sanna Marin’s Government is the third government in succession that has failed to reform the Sámi Parliament Act. A report by the Timonen committee, which prepared the legislative reform, was published in May 2021 but the Act did not proceed to consideration by committees in Parliament until the last possible moments in November 2022. Pressures for reforming the Sámi Parliament Act have also been increased by decisions made by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the UN Human Rights Committee, obligating the government of Finland to reform the Act so it would respect the right of self-determination of the Sámi people as an indigenous people.

The bill, which was founded on several years of work, was supported by the Plenum of the Sámi Parliament as well as by the Skolt Sámi siida council, the Sámi Parliamentary Council, and the Saami Council. It also had the support of numerous expert parties and human rights actors, and the petition organised in favour of the bill garnered 23,000 signatories.

– On behalf of the Sámi Parliament, I wish to extend a warm thank-you to all the Sámi and Finnish private persons who persistently did important work for the legislative reform, President Juuso notes.

Further information:

Tuomas Aslak Juuso
President
+358 40 687 3394
tuomas.juuso@samediggi.fi 

Etyjin vähemmistövaltuutettu Kairat Abdrakhmanov ja Saamelaiskäräjien puheenjohtaja Tuomas Aslak Juuso.

The Sámi Parliament met the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities in Inari 

Kairat Abdrakhmanov, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, visited Inari from 15 to 16 February 2023. During the visit, the High Commissioner met President of the Sámi Parliament Tuomas Aslak Juuso, as well as 2nd Vice President Leo Aikio. Out of the bodies of the Sámi Parliament, the Advisory Board on Inari Sámi Affairs as well as the Youth Council met the High Commissioner. 

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov and President of the Sámi Parliament Tuomas Aslak Juuso. Image: Johanna Alatorvinen / Sámi Parliament.

“I wish to thank the High Commissioner on National Minorities for an important visit. We discussed matters topical to the Sámi, such as the overall situation caused by the reform of the Act on the Sámi Parliament and the resulting tensions. In addition, the High Commissioner was interested in issues such as the impact of climate change on the traditional livelihoods and Sámi culture as well as the opportunities of the Sámi Parliament to influence decision-making,” says Tuomas Aslak Juuso, the President of the Sámi Parliament. 

During the visit to Inari, the High Commissioner also met representatives of the Sámi homeland municipalities, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Sámi organisations. The High Commissioner also heard about the current situation of the traditional livelihoods of the Sámi. 

In addition to the meetings, the High Commissioner visited Yle Sápmi, the Sámi language department of the Finnish Broadcasting Company, and an Inari Sámi language nest. The High Commissioner also visited Vice President Leo Aikio and learned more about reindeer husbandry. 

Varapuheenjohtaja Leo Aikio kertoo poronhoidosta vieraille. Kuvassa Aikion lisäksi vasemmalta vähemmistövaltuutettu Kairat Abdrakhmanov, sekä vähemmistövaltuutetun toimistosta Zhazira Kul-Mukhammed, Mitra Jalali ja Anton Thomsen.
Vice President Leo Aikio tells the guests about reindeer husbandry. In the image from the left in addition to Aikio: High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov, as well as Zhazira Kul-Mukhammed, Mitra Jalali and Anton Thomsen from the Office of the High Commissioner for National Minorities. Image: Johanna Alatorvinen / Sámi Parliament.

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities strives to prevent and mitigate tensions pertaining to national minorities within the OSCE territory. The work emphasises quiet diplomacy and supporting cooperation between various parties.   

Further information: 

Tuomas Aslak Juuso 
President 
+358 40 687 3394 
tuomas.juuso@samediggi.fi  

Leo Aikio 
2nd Vice President 
+358 40 621 6505 
leo.aikio@samediggi.fi 

Inka-Saara Arttijeff 
Secretary for International Affairs 
+358 10 839 3198 / +358 50 574 7629 
inka-saara.arttijeff@samediggi.fi    

Saamelaiskäräjien puheenjohtaja Tuomas Aslak Juuso.

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities to visit Inari

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov visits Inari on 15–16 February 2023. Over the course of the visit, the High Commissioner will meet representatives of the Sámi Parliament, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Skolt Sámi Siida Council, Sámi organisations and Sámi homeland municipalities.

Saamelaiskäräjien puheenjohtaja Tuomas Aslak Juuso.
The president of Sámi Parliament Tuomas Aslak Juuso. Image: Johanna Alatorvinen / The Sámi Parliament.

– It is great to see the OSCE show interest towards Sámi matters, in particular because the object of the visit is to discuss the Act on the Sámi Parliament and the general situation caused by it. The OSCE plays an important role in securing the rights of national minorities, says Tuomas Aslak Juuso, President of the Sámi Parliament.

During the visit, the High Commissioner for National Minorities will also examine economic matters and visit the Yle Sápmi editorial office and an Inari Sámi language nest.

The OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities strives to prevent and mitigate tensions pertaining to national minorities within the OSCE territory. The work emphasises quiet diplomacy and supporting cooperation between various parties.

Further information:

Tuomas Aslak Juuso
President
+358 40 687 3394
tuomas.juuso@samediggi.fi 

Inka-Saara Arttijeff
Secretary for International Affairs
+358 10 839 3198 / +358 50 574 7629
inka-saara.arttijeff@samediggi.fi