THE SAAMI FROM SURVIVAL TO REVIVAL

A study about the social wellbeing and self determination of the Saami of Finland

By: Manoj BhusalC23 DSS, Diaconia University of Applied SciencesJärvenpää-Finland

• "We, Sámi are one nation. The national boundaries cannot break the unity of the Sámi people. We have our own history and traditions, our own culture and

our own language." This Sámi political programme was adopted in the 11th Nordic Sámi

conference 1980.

• The Saami: Indigenous or minority? The Saami used to be traditionally regarded as one of the minorities

in Finland, but a constitutional amendment of 1995 recognized the

Saami as an indigenous people of Finland. • Who are indigenous people? - usually live within geographically distinct ancestral territories; - tend to maintain distinct social, economic, and political institutions

within their territories; - typically aspire to remain distinct culturally, geographically and

institutionally rather than assimilate fully into national society; and - self-identify as indigenous or tribal

The Finnish Saami also have

• a distinct cultural tradition

• self-sufficing subsistence

economy based on reindeer

herding, fishing and hunting (No capitalist bankrupt economy!)

• and a peculiar system of knowledge, with least harm to

the environment

The Murky Past

• Many evidences suggest that the Saami came to the region at least 5000 years ago

• The Saami suffered a lot during modern state building process and industrialization, during and after the 17th century

• Ethnocentric assimilation policies were harshly applied and Saami langauge and traditional spiritual practices were banned

CORA, C= Coercion, O= Oppression, R= Racism, A= Assimilation

• hydroelectric development, timber harvesting, oil and gas extraction and mining did produce a lot of commodities, but damaged the environment and the livelihood of the indigenous communities, but

education played a good role

The Journey towards Self-determination

• The End of Colonial Era after the second world war in 1945, change of global politics

• Establishment of the UN and its organizations

• Developments in Norway and Sweden

Administrative and Judicial

Developments • A Sami Parliament since 1973 But with only advisory power/ no decisive power

• Sámi Act 1995 recognizes `Sámi Homeland’ with cultural autonomy

• Sami langauge has semi official status in the sami homeland, (but not national language)

• but no representation to the Parliament • Cultural autonomy only, not political• Dispute over the ownership of land and natural

resources continues

Socio-economic conditions

• Low income and unemployement• Low geographical accessibility• Harsh environmental conditions• low productivity• declining population• threat to traditional economies

• Globalization and Climate change

Challenges of Social Services

• Limited range of services, and

• A limited number of service-delivery personnel

• Discrimination Skolt Saami have no retirement homes in their area. They have to live at a Finnish language elderly home in Ivalo. No childcare services available in their language, language already threatened, spoken by mere 300 people

Interventions

• Government: through legislations and adminstrative provisions

• NGOs: through awareness and lobbying (STOP project)

• Media as a tool of combating discrimination and strengthening Sami solidarity

• The Sami Indigenous movement

What Next..?

• Assimilation or Isolation or Diversity?

• Imposed ideas or local solutions?• Demands of 1. Self government rights

2. Polyethnic rights

3. Special representation rights

• The Sami continue to strive for more rights and previleges

(The End)Feedback/Comments: mbhusal@gmail.com