23RD SAAMI CONFERENCE
The Saami Council’s 70-year history will be celebrated during the 23rd Saami Conference in Ohcejohka/Utsjoki on 18–21 June 2026.
What is the Saami Conference?
The Saami Conference is the Saami Council’s highest body and most important forum, and, according to the statutes, is to be held every four years. In 2026, the 23rd Saami Conference will take place in Ohcejohka/Utsjoki on 18–21 June 2026, where we will celebrate the Saami Council’s 70-year history. During the conference week, the KulturSápmi conference and other meetings will also be held.
On this page, you will find updated information about the programme, participation and registration as it becomes available.
Dates
Saami Conference 18–21 June 2026
Gathering for Sámi Duojárat and Sámi Businesses 16.-28.6.
Programme
The detailed programme for the Saami Conference is published below.
The programme for the Gathering for Sámi Duojárat and Sámi Businesses will be sent directly to participants.
Conference Week
proceedings
proceedings
Official Opening
proceedings
Constituent meeting of the
Saami Council
Festival
Festival
Scroll sideways on smaller screens to view the full programme.
Registration is available every day between 09:00 and 10:00 in the entrance of the old school
Detailed programme
Monday 15.06.26
Gávnnadeapmi 3: separate program
Tuesday 16.06.26
Gávnnadeapmi 3: separate program
KulturSápmi: separate program
Sápmái Buorrin: separate program
Launch of Dájda Codicil
Lávvu
Wednesday 17.06.26
Gávnnadeapmi 3: separate program
KulturSápmi: separate program
Sápmái Buorrin: separate program
Duodji market
Lávvu
Premiere screening of the short film: A Cinematic Essay by Three Voices on Birgejupmi
Lávvu
Dinner and Saami Council Literature Prize Ceremony
Cultural program
Lávvu
Thursday 18.06.26
Gávnnadeapmi 3: separate program until lunch
KulturSápmi: separate program until lunch
Sápmái Buorrin: separate program until lunch
Duodji market
Lávvu (before lunch) / Old Ohcejohka School (after lunch)
Lunch
Lávvu
Official Opening of the 23rd Saami Conference
- National song
- Opening speech by Saami Council president
- Cultural performances
- Greetings by guests
- National joik
- Youth statement
- Constitution of the Conference
Plenary room (The sports hall at Old Ohcejohka school)
Break
Sámi vuogit – How to work in Sámi ways in our organizations
Plenary room
Formal dinner including Saami Council Honorary Award Ceremony
Lávvu
Concert with Niillas Holmberg & Pauli Lyytinen
Lávvu
Friday 19.06.26
Saami Council 70 years – seminar during the 23rd Saami Conference
Duodji market
Old Ohcejohka School
Part 1
09:00 – 09:10: Opening speech
Council member of the Saami Council Christina Henriksen
09:10 – 10:10: The history of Saami Council
Lecture by Katri Somby and Saara Alakorva
10:10 – 10:30: Coffee break
10:30 – 11:15: Dialogue: From past to present
- Márjá Sofe Aikio
- Rose-Marie Huuva
- Olav Mathis Eira
- Moderator: Christina Hætta
11:15 – 12:00: From Sápmi to the world
- The UN and the Indigenous Peoples, Professor Sheryl Lightfoot, vice chair EMRIP
- The Arctic cooperation, Gunn-Britt Retter, head of the Arctic and Environmental Unit, Saami Council
- The Sámi and the EU, Elle Merete Omma, head of the EU Unit, Saami Council
Lunch
Part 2
13:00 – 14:30: Our Organizations: the pillars of Sápmi
- Beatrice Fløystad, head of NSR
- Aslak Holmberg, head of SSG
- Ole-Anders Turi, head of NRL
- Karin Vannar, head of RÄF
- Joakim Påve, head of SÄ
- Moderator: Åsa Larsson Blind
14:30 – 14:45: Break
14:45 – 15:00: The Siida system – the organization of the future?
Fierranjot Kirstte Rávdná (Rauna Kuokkanen) and Sieiddá Harald (Harald Gaski)
15:00 – 16:00: Panel discussion: Sápmi today
- Pirita Näkkäläjärvi, President of the Sámi Parliament in Finland
- Silje Karine Muotka, President of the Sámi Parliament in Norway
- Marianne Gråik, President of the Sámi Parliament in Sweden
- Moderator: Katri Somby
The Arctic of Tomorrow - Strategy, cooperation, and the way forward
Plenary room
- Gunn-Britt Retter, Head of the Arctic and Environmental Unit, Saami Council
- Speaker: Aluki Kotierk, Chair of UNFPII
- Aslat Holmberg, Central Saami Association (Finland)
- Gudrun Kuhmunen, Sámi Association in Sweden
- Lájlá Helene Eira, Reindeer Herders Association of Norway
- Nils Joel Partapuoli, Gávnnadeapmi-3 participant
- Moderator: Christina Henriksen
Dinner
Lávvu
Ohcejohka Šearrá festival
Evening programSaturday 20.06.26
Possibility for negotiations between the delegations
Saami Conference meeting
Plenary room
Lunch
Lávvu
Memorial service in honor of those who lost their lives while traveling to the 8th Sámi Conference in Snåsa
Plenary room
Break
Saami Conference meeting
Plenary room
Conversation on gender equality
Plenary room
Dinner
Lávvu
Ohcejohka Šearrá festival
Evening programSunday 21.06.26
Possibility for negotiations between the delegations
Saami Conference meeting
Plenary room
Lunch
Lávvu
Constitutional meeting of the new Saami Council
Plenary room
Practical information
23rd Saami Conference
Ohcejohka/Utsjoki, Finland · 18–21 June 2026
The Saami Council is happy to welcome you to the 23rd Saami Conference in Ohcejohka/Utsjoki. The conference week will be a celebration of the 70 years that the Saami Council has worked for the Saami people. On this page, you will find practical information about venues, travel, local services, catering, interpretation and contact details.
Utsjoentie 44
Police, fire and medical
Conference venues
The 23rd Saami Conference will take place in Ohcejohka/Utsjoki, Finland, at the Old School.
Address: Utsjoentie 44, 99980 Utsjoki, Finland.
The Lávvu venue is located next to the main conference venue.
Related events during the conference week
KulturSápmi is an open gathering for the Saami culture and arts field.
The youth conference Gávnnadeapmi is a gathering for Saami youth, organized through the Sámi Youth Network.
The Sápmái Buorrin gathering, also referred to as Duodji Deaivvadeapmi in some documents, is a gathering for professional duojárat. It is organized by the Sápmái Buorrin team.
The Knowledge Hub report launches are organized by the ReCap ASáp team and consist of separate events in different formats.
Ohcejohka Šearrá is an annual village festival organized by Ohcejohka Municipality. The festival includes performances and concerts. Tickets can be bought in advance or at the entrance.
The conference week will also include the awarding of the Saami Council Literature Prize and the Gutnebálkašupmi, the Saami Council Honorary Award. A small duodji market will also take place during the conference.
Interpretation
To access interpretation during the Conference, participants need to download the Zoom app and bring their own headphones.
About Ohcejohka
Ohcejohka is the administrative centre of Ohcejohka municipality, the northernmost municipality in Finland. It is located along the Deatnu river and the Norwegian border.
Please note that Ohcejohka is located in the GMT+03:00 time zone. All conference schedules follow this time zone.
For more information about Ohcejohka, please visit the Ohcejohka municipality website.
Travel to and from Ohcejohka
Travel by flight
The closest airports are located in Vadsø, Ivalo, Kirkenes and Lakselv. We recommend using cars for transport between Ohcejohka and the airports, as well as between locations and venues in Ohcejohka.
| Airport | Distance from Ohcejohka | Transport | Car rental |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivalo Airport | Approx. 175 km | Car and bus | Avis, Budget, Europcar, Green Motion, Hertz |
| Kirkenes Airport | Approx. 190 km | Car | Avis, Hertz, Sixt Car Rental |
| Vadsø Airport | Approx. 140 km | Car | Avis, Hertz, Varanger Auto, Sixt Car Rental |
| Lakselv Airport | Approx. 190 km | Car | Avis, Hertz, Sixt Car Rental |
Travel by bus
A daily bus service is available between Ivalo and Ohcejohka.
Driving to Ohcejohka
For many guests from other parts of Sápmi, driving may be the best option for travelling to Ohcejohka. The Saami Council encourages participants to drive together when possible.
| From | Estimated driving time |
|---|---|
| Tromsø | 9 hours |
| Rovaniemi | 5 hours 20 minutes |
| Karasjok | 1 hour 20 minutes |
| Anár/Inari | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Kiruna | 7 hours 10 minutes |
Stores and services
In Ohcejohka, there is one general store. In the surrounding areas of Nuorgam and Tana Bru, you can find stores with a wider selection.
| Place | Store | Address | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohcejohka/Utsjoki | Uulan Säästö Ky | Utsjoentie 1, 99980 Utsjoki, Finland | Mon–Fri: 09:00–18:00 Sat: 10:00–16:00 |
| Nuorgam | K-market | Nuorgamintie 4298, 99990 Nuorgam, Finland | Mon–Fri: 10:00–20:00 Sat: 10:00–18:00 Sun: 11:00–16:00 |
| Tana Bru | Rema 1000 | Ringveien 3, 9845 Tana Bru, Norway | Mon–Sat: 07:00–23:00 |
| Tana Bru | Coop Extra | Ringveien 4, 9845 Tana Bru, Norway | Mon–Sat: 07:00–23:00 |
Catering
All registered participants and guests are welcome to join the lunches and dinners organized every day at the Lávvu venue.
For questions about allergies and dietary restrictions, please contact saamicouncil@saamicouncil.net.
Useful phone numbers
112 — Finnish Emergency Number: Police, Fire and Medical
Address: Seitatie 1 A, 99980 Utsjoki, Finland
Phone: +358 40 1810285
Taksi Antti Sujala: +358 40 0545199
Taxi Raimo Esa Guttorm: +358 40 4125540
Mikko Järvensivu: +358 40 0941185
Contacting the Saami Council
Website:
www.saamicouncil.net
Dedicated page for the Conference:
23rd Saami Conference
Phone: +47 950 25 926
Email: saamicouncil@saamicouncil.net
Registration is available every day between 09:00 and 10:00 in the entrance of the old school
Meeting agenda and documents
Meeting agenda
Opening of the conference
Approval of delegates
The conference’s quorum and legality
Election of conference chairs and secretaries
Decision on how the conference minutes shall be approved
Approval of the agenda and rules of procedure
Establishment of committees
I. Resolutions Committee
II. Committee for the Ohcejohka Declaration
III. Election Committee
The Saami Council’s and its bodies’ activity reports 2022–2025
The Saami Council’s audit reports 2022–2025
The Saami Council’s Strategy 2026–2030
Amendment of the Statutes of the Saami Council
Election of members of the Saami Council 2026–2030
The Ohcejohka Declaration
Presentation of the case and proposed resolution
Any other business
For guests and attendees
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Most meeting documents are only available in northern sámi, norwegian and finnish.
Some key documents are translated to English and can be downloaded here:
All language versions of the meeting documents can be downloaded here.
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The Saami Conference will be interpreted. Download the Zoom-app for your phone to access interpretation. Remember to take headphones with you!