The Indigenous Sámi People in Finland: Culture, Rights, and Challenges
The Sámi are the only indigenous people in the European Union, with around 10,000 residing in Finland. They have rights to maintain their language and culture, but face challenges such as declining language use and threats to traditional livelihoods. The Sámi Parliament plays a key role in advocating for Sámi interests, though there are ongoing deficiencies in their legal status and recognition. Efforts are being made to preserve and revitalize Sámi traditions amidst modern challenges.
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The Smi in Finland The S mi are the only indigenous people in the European Union. About 10,000 S mi live in Finland. Traditional S mi livelihoods include reindeer husbandry, fishing and handicrafts. Under the Constitution of Finland, the S mi have the right to maintain and develop their own language and culture. Source: Wikimedia Commons (PD) 2 11 December 2022 Finnish National Agency for Education
The Smi in Finland speak North S mi Inari S mi Skolt S mi. The S mi languages are official languages in the S mi Homeland in the municipalities of Inari, Enonteki and Utsjoki and in the northern part of Sodankyl . 11 December 2022 Today, many S mi live outside the Homeland, as a result of which the use of the languages has declined. Efforts have been made to revitalise the languages through the language immersion of young children. Finnish National Agency for Education 11 December 2022 3
4 For generations, the authorities and the Church tried to integrate the S mi into Finland s majority population. 11 December 2022 Finnish National Agency for Education For example, speaking in their mother tongue could be prohibited from S mi children. Discriminatio n against the S mi The S mi culture has been at risk of disappearing because of the discrimination. Today, the S mi are worried about the effects that mining, railway and other projects have on their traditional livelihoods.
Smi Parliament The S mi Parliament is an autonomous body of the S mi. The Parliament takes initiatives and issues statements on matters concerning the S mi. The authorities must negotiate with the S mi Parliament on decisions that may affect the status of the S mi. The representatives (21) to the S mi Parliament are elected every four years. Source: Samediggi S mi Parliament (Flickr.com) (CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0) 5 11 December 2022 Finnish National Agency for Education
6 Although the rights of the S mi are mentioned in the Constitution of Finland, there are still deficiencies in their status. 11 December 2022 Finnish National Agency for Education Finland has not ratified the international ILO Convention 169 guaranteeing the rights of indigenous peoples. Legal status of the S mi For example, the UN Human Rights Committee has reprimanded the State of Finland for violating the right to self- determination of the S mi. The issue of who can vote in the elections for the S mi Parliament has led to disagreements.
