Tag: saami culture

Saami Culture Must Be Secured Through Sustainable Management in the Arctic

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, climate action, climate leadership, Global Climate Change

Arctic (43)

The Saami (Sámi), one of the world´s many indigenous populations, live in the Sápmi region, known in English as Lapland, in Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia). The total Sámi population is today around two million (2.000.000). In the Nordic countries, the Sámi population have their own parliaments. The Saami Council, a non-governmental umbrella organization, is based on Saami organizations. (SÁMIRÁDDI).

Although not acknowledged as a national language e.g. in Finland, the Saami population have the right to self-determination, including the right to determine their own economic and social development. (Saami Council). How can this be secured in (a) geographical region(s) belonging to various states, with a changing climate, and with a legislation that does not necessarily take into consideration the cultural heritage and old traditions of the Saami population. This is a question concerning Saami ´s in Finland and Norway in terms of a new restrictive legislation concerning fishing in Tenojoki (river Tana), expected to enter into force if and when the Finnish Parliament accepts it. According to YLE reporting about this new bilateral agreement, it could be a violation of the Saami people´s human rights. As a permanent participant in the Arctic Council, the Saami Council certainly has a strong foothold in the Arctic region, and in questions concerning the Arctic region.

Learn more about life in the Arctic in a changing climate by watching Thin Ice´s video “The Changing Arctic – Life in the Arctic – Sami view”:

 

Connect with me on Twitter @annemariayritys. For climate/environment-related posts only @GCCThinkActTank. Subscribe to Leading With Passion to receive my latest posts.

 

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Indigenous Communities in the Arctic Threatened By Climate Change

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, climate action, climate leadership, Global Climate Change

Arctic (39).jpg

An indigenous community consists of an indigenous population in a specific geographical area/territory who were present in that area before modern states and current borders (WHO – Indigenous populations). Indigenous populations live around the world. In the Arctic region, indigenous people are for instance Saami, Nenets, Khanty, Evenk, Chukchi, Aleut, Yupik, and Inuit. (Arctic Centre – University of Lapland – Arctic Indigenous Peoples). According to the University of Lapland, the Arctic region is today home to some four million people (13.1 million people live in the circumpolar north). (Nordregio – Indigenous population in the Arctic).

Although the Sami language has no official status as a national language in Finland, the Sami people have a legislative right to use and to maintain their own culture and language. Note from author: Finland has two official languages today, Finnish and Swedish. Finland´s national public service broadcasting company Yle offers news in the two official languages Finnish and Swedish, but also in Sami, sign language and in Russian, with more than 30.000 Russians living in Finland according to statistics from 2016: Statistics Finland – Foreign Citizens. 

Indigenous population everywhere in the world, now discussing indigenous population in the Arctic region including Saami and Inuit people, are known for living according to the laws and rules of nature, i.e. natural way of living by causing as little as possible damage to the environment through their way of living. With climate change and legislative changes made without consideration for the indigenous population e.g. regarding the Saami people´s right to traditional fishing in Arctic rivers, indigenous people in the Arctic region now face completely new challenges for livelihood. For example Saami people have reported that due to climate change, weather is now almost impossible to predict, and ice sheets are becoming thin.

Learn more about what Saami´s think about new salmon fishing restrictions by watching 350.org´s video “Climate justice in Sápmi: Áslat Holmberg, Fisherman & Politician”:

 

Connect with me on Twitter @annemariayritys. For climate/environment-related posts only @GCCThinkActTank. Subscribe to Leading With Passion to receive my latest posts.

 

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