Saami Council releases Sámi Arctic Strategy
President of the Saami Council Åsa Larsson Blind launched the “Sámi Arctic Strategy” last week in Umeå at the EU Arctic Forum (Oct 3-4), which discussed how the Indigenous Knowledge and participation could be increased in research and policy making.
The Saami council released the 10-page document and an attached 13-page list of knowledge gaps and research needs. The strategy should be read in the context of the 2017 EU Arctic Stakeholder Forum. The six main points of the strategy are as follows:
1. The Saami Council acting as a robust and reliable partner on Arctic Sámi issues
2. Ensuring the right to choose
3. Addressing climate change and environmental protection
4. Deploying Sámi Indigenous knowledge and science as a catalyst for Sápmi’s path forward
5. Saami Council serving partner in policy-making and decision-making on Arctic issues
6. The Saami Council as a partner in policy-making and decision-making on Arctic issues
In Åsa Larsson Blind’s opening remarks at the EU Arctic Forum she says “The Sámi Arctic Strategy is our contribution to finding sustainable actions for the Arctic. The Sámi Arctic Strategy focuses on our needs and is the Sámi response to the complexity of the Arctic. The Sámi Arctic Strategy aims at building a strong and sustainable Sápmi in the Arctic by securing enduring influence for the Sámi people in the Arctic through partnership education and advocacy.”
The full strategy can be found here.