Sami Truth and Reconciliation Commission to continue its work

/in , /by

In its session on 23 November, the Government decided that Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sami People would continue its work. The commission’s work will continue as outlined in the Government Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government until 31 December 2025. The commission was appointed at a government session on 28 October 2021. Its aim is to collect Sami people’s experiences of the actions of the Finnish state and its various authorities and to make this information visible to the public.

The commission’s work is unique and takes time to implement properly. For this reason, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Sami Parliament and the Skolt Sami Siida Council decided to propose that its working term be extended. The commission’s current term is set to continue until the end of this year.

The parliamentary monitoring group appointed to support the commission’s work will also be reappointed for the duration of the commission’s term. The monitoring group has a member and a deputy member from the parties represented in Parliament, the Sami Parliament (two members), the Skolt Sami Siida Council, the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Orthodox Church.

It is important to ensure that culturally appropriate psychosocial support is available in the Sami languages throughout the commission’s working term. The Uvjj – Uvjâ – Uvja – Untuva psychosocial support unit operating under the wellbeing services county of Lapland provides psychosocial support services that are compatible with the Sami culture and available in the Sami languages. Its activities will continue for the duration of the commission’s work.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is an impartial and independent body. It consists of five commissioners, two of whom are appointed based on a proposal from the Government, two based on a proposal from the Sami Parliament and one based on a proposal from the Skolt Sami Siida Council.

The commission’s members are:

  • Irja Jefremoff, Master of Administrative Sciences
  • Anni-Siiri Länsman, PhD, University Lecturer, Head of the Giellagas Institute at the University of Oulu
  • Kari Mäkinen, Archbishop emeritus
  • Heikki Paltto, Reindeer Herder, Entrepreneur
  • Hannele Pokka, Doctor of Laws, Professor of Practice

The purpose of the truth and reconciliation process is:

  • to identify and assess historical and current discrimination, including state assimilation policy, and violations of rights,
  • to find out how these injustices affect the Sami people and their communities today,
  • to propose ways to promote links between the Sami and the state of Finland and among the Sami people, and
  • to raise awareness about the Sami as the Indigenous people of Finland

The Mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sami People defines the objectives and tasks of the commission’s work. A further aim is to ensure that, as a result of the truth and reconciliation process, the state of Finland will bear responsibility for its actions and, together with the Sami Parliament, the Skolt Sami Siida Council and other Sami operators, will work to strengthen the realisation of the rights of the Sami people in Finland. Psychosocial support is an integral part of the implementation of the truth and reconciliation process.

The commission will draw up a report on its work that includes proposals for measures. The report will be submitted to the Government, the Sami Parliament and the Skolt Sami Siida Council by 30 November 2025.

In Finland, the status of the Sami as an indigenous people is guaranteed by the Constitution. By virtue of section 17, subsection 3 of the Constitution, the Sami, as an indigenous people, have the right to maintain and develop their own language and culture.

Read more about the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sami People. 
 
Inquiries: Risto Artjoki, State Secretary, tel. +358 9 1602 2006, Niina Brander, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 160 347, Prime Minister’s Office, Anni Koivisto, First Vice-President of the Sami Parliament, tel. +358 40 415 5969 and Veikko Feodoroff, Skolt Sami Elder, tel. +358 50 396 1297

Continuation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sami People (in Finnish)
Decision on establishing a truth and reconciliation commission concerning the Sami people (in Finnish)
Mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sami People (in Finnish)

Puheenjohtaja Tuomas Aslak Juuso ja Pääministeri Sanna Marin lehdistötilaisuudessa

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi People to begin its work in Finland

/in , /by

In its session on 28 October, the Government appointed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi People. The work to establish the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has continued in line with the Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government.

The matter has been prepared in close cooperation with representatives of the Finnish state, the Sámi Parliament and the Skolt Sámi Siida Council. The aim of the commission is to collect Sámi people’s experiences of the actions of the Finnish state and its various authorities and to make this information visible to the public. 

Puheenjohtaja Tuomas Aslak Juuso ja Pääministeri Sanna Marin lehdistötilaisuudessa
The President of Sámi Parliament Tuomas Aslak Juuso and Prime Minister Sanna Marin in the press conference 28 October 2021. Photo: Laura Kotila | Prime Minister’s Office

“I wish the Truth and Reconciliation Commission the best of success in its important work. Our common goal is for the commission’s work to increase dialogue and trust between the Sámi and the state. Only by understanding what the Sámi have experienced can we truly find solutions for the future,” says Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

“Today marks the start of an important undertaking to investigate the discrimination experienced by the Sámi and the consequences of state assimilation policy. There are still barriers to the recognition and implementation of the rights of the Sámi as an indigenous people in Finland. I hope that this difficult process will result in concrete measures that genuinely advance the status of the Sámi in Finnish society,” says Tuomas Aslak Juuso, President of the Sámi Parliament.

“The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi people will do important and also very difficult work. The start of the commission’s work follows several years of careful preparations aiming to increase understanding and trust between the Sámi and the state. We hope that the commission will be successful in its work and will have sufficient resources to ensure that success,” says Skolt Sámi Elder Veikko Feodoroff.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is an impartial and independent body. It consists of five Commissioners, two of whom are appointed based on a proposal from the Government, two based on a proposal from the Sámi Parliament and one based on a proposal from the Skolt Sámi Siida Council.

The Commission’s members are: 

  • Heikki J. Hyvärinen, Doctoral Researcher, Master of Laws
  • Irja Jefremoff, Master of Administrative Sciences
  • Kari Mäkinen, Archbishop Emeritus, Doctor of Theology
  • Hannele Pokka, Professor of Practice, Doctor of Laws
  • Miina Seurujärvi, Master of Arts 

The purpose of the truth and reconciliation process is:

  • to identify and assess historical and current discrimination, including state assimilation policy, and violations of rights,
  • to find out how these injustices affect the Sámi people and their communities today,
  • to propose ways to promote links between the Sámi and the state of Finland and among the Sámi people, and
  • to raise awareness about the Sámi as the indigenous people of Finland.  

A further aim is to ensure that, as a result of the truth and reconciliation process, the state of Finland will bear responsibility for its actions and, together with the Sámi Parliament, the Skolt Sámi Siida Council and other Sámi operators, will work to strengthen the realisation of the rights of the Sámi people in Finland. Psychosocial support is an integral part of the implementation of the truth and reconciliation process.

The commission will draw up a report on its work that includes proposals for measures. The report will be submitted to the Government, the Sámi Parliament and the Skolt Sámi Siida Council by 30 November 2023. 

In Finland, the status of the Sámi as an indigenous people is guaranteed by the Constitution. By virtue of section 17, subsection 3 of the Constitution, the Sámi, as an indigenous people, have the right to maintain and develop their own language and culture.

International role models

The international institution of truth and reconciliation commissions emerged in the 1970s. Internationally, truth commissions or truth and reconciliation commissions refer to processes that examine collective injustices in history. Truth and reconciliation commissions have been established in about 40 countries.

Inquiries:

Nina Brander, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 160 347, Maiju Ranta, Coordinator, tel. +358 29 160 272, Prime Minister’s Office

Tuomas Aslak Juuso, President of the Sámi Parliament, tel. +358 40 687 3394

Veikko Feodoroff, Skolt Sámi Elder, tel. +358 50 396 1297