Truth commission calls on Finland to address Sami injustices

On Thursday, a Finnish truth and reconciliation commission called on the government to take steps to address historical wrongs inflicted on the indigenous Sami population, concluding its report after four years of investigation. The commission gathered testimonies from nearly 400 Sami individuals and numerous experts, shedding light on the discrimination and human rights abuses perpetrated by the Finnish state, including its assimilation policies.

Until the late 20th century, Sami children were forcibly separated from their families and sent to boarding schools, where they were prohibited from speaking their native languages and engaging in cultural practices and traditional livelihoods.

The commission delivered its final report to both the Prime Minister and Sami representatives on Thursday. Finland has yet to officially apologize to the Sami people, but Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated after the reports handover: "It is clear to me that an apology must be made."

There are approximately 10,000 Sami living in Finland out of an estimated 75,000 to 100,000 across the broader region. The majority of the Sami people also reside in Sweden, Norway, and parts of Russias Kola Peninsula. Their culture and language are deeply intertwined with traditional activities like reindeer herding, fishing, gathering, and handicrafts.

In Finland, three Sami languages are spoken: Northern Sami, Inari Sami, and Skolt Sami. While Finlands assimilation policies were never codified into law like those in neighboring Sweden and Norway, the outcomes were similarly damaging, according to commission chair Hannele Pokka, who spoke to AFP.

The commission's report emphasized that the state must "acknowledge its historical injustices" and recognize that Finland was "established on the lands of two peoples: the Sami and the Finns."

Today, the Sami continue to face challenges from climate change and competition for land in the Arctic region, the report noted. Additionally, their rights as an indigenous people are not fully respected.

The commission outlined 68 recommendations aimed at ensuring a brighter future for the Sami people, including legal and administrative reforms. Pokka expressed hope that the government would take action "as soon as possible." Some of the key proposals include adopting the International Labour Organizations Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, introducing laws to regulate Sami reindeer herding, and creating a unit within the Prime Ministers office to coordinate Sami affairs.

Truth and reconciliation commissions in countries such as Australia, Canada, and the other Nordic nations have recently uncovered similar violations and discrimination against indigenous populations.

Author: Sophia Brooks