Cooperation with Russian side on hold
As of today, 10 April 2022, the Saami Council puts the cooperation with our member organisations in the Russian side on hold, until the next Saami Council meeting. The Saami Council will then further evaluate the situation. The decision was made unanimously by a complete Executive Board.
This means that the members on the Russian side will not attend any formal Saami Council meetings on any level for the time being.
The Saami Council Executive Board will, until the next Saami Council meeting, function with participation and decisions by representation from the Saami Council sections on the Norwegian, Finnish and Swedish side.
The Saami Council has been complete for the last 30 years, with member organisations in all four states, in which our people reside. Before 1992, we were separated for too long, due to the actions of the states, and the borders drawn across Sápmi.
Again, the action of a state is affecting and threatening the cooperation and unity of the Saami people. The situation is difficult on multiple levels, and the access to information is different in different parts of Sápmi.
On behalf of the Saami Council, I sincerely hope that we will soon see the day when we can reunite again, to continue our joint efforts for the Sámi people. It is indeed heartbreaking that, in the year we were to celebrate our 30th anniversary as united in the Saami Council, we might have a Saami Conference without representation from the easternmost part of Sápmi.