Finland must make an apology to Sámi people for discrimination: PM

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Thursday said that Finland must make an apology to the Sámi people for the discrimination they faced.

The Premier made the remarks when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission submitted its report to the government, reported national broadcaster Yle.

The Commission submitted its final report to the government, the Sámi Parliament and the Skolt Sámi Siida Council, according to a government press release.

The Commission was formed during the regime of the Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP) led government in October 2021 to identify and assess the historical and present discrimination, including violations of rights and state assimilation policy experienced by the Sámi people.

In cooperation with the Sámi Parliament and the Skolt Sámi Siida Council, the Commission held consultations with almost 400 Sámi people and commissioned 25 separate studies by various experts and prepared the final report with recommendations and proposals for measures.

“For the truth and reconciliation process to be successful, it is important to increase awareness and understanding of the Sámi as Finland’s only Indigenous people. It is time to right the wrongs and injustices done to the Sámi people. We hope that our work will open the way for reconciliation so that Finland’s two peoples, the Finns and the Sámi, can live together in good cooperation with one another,” said Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Hannele Pokka in the press release.

“I would like to thank the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its Secretariat for their significant and historic work. This work was very much needed. We will study the final report carefully and approach its recommendations and proposals with the utmost seriousness,” said Orpo.

“We, the Commission’s founding bodies, must take this final report seriously: it contains a great deal of important, wide-ranging information that we can learn from. With this report as a foundation, it is now our turn to work actively together and start building reconciliation. Now is the time to adopt a new attitude to Sámi issues: our old ways of doing things are no longer enough,” said Tuomas Aslak Juuso, Acting President of the Sámi Parliament.

Skolt Saami Elder Veikko Feodoroff said that over the past four years, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi People has held extensive consultations with members of the Sámi community with a view to uncovering the truth.

“Despite some initial misgivings, we Sámi have taken part in this work, trusted the process and shared even very difficult experiences, which will be revealed in the final report we have submitted today,” Veikko Feodoroff added.

The Commission has also increased awareness of the Sámi as an Indigenous people living in Finland.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report consists of two parts. Part I contains the Commission’s proposals for measures while Part II was drawn up based on an analysis of the material obtained in the consultations.

Part II is divided into five sections: language, identity and power; cultural heritage and current culture; the multi-voiced Sámi homeland; transforming traditional livelihoods; and Sámi society and the wellbeing of the Sámi.