Memorial ceremony - in honour of those who lost their lives while traveling to the 8th Saami Conference in Snåsa
From the 8th Saami Conference in Snåsa in 1974. Left: Nils-Aslak Valkeapää, Juhani Nousuniemi and Pekka Lukkari. Empty seats represent the missing members of the delegation. Photo: Johannes Helander/Juhani Nousuniemi's archives
The Saami Council will arrange, in conjunction with the 23rd Saami Conference, a memorial ceremony in honour of the Sámi politicians who lost their lives while traveling to the 8th Saami Conference in Snåase/Snåsa. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, 20th June 2026, in Ohcejohka.
A small aircraft that took off from Avvil disappeared without a trace on the 24th of June, 1974, with six men on board. The plane has not been found to this day. On board were the captain and five members of the Sámi delegation, who were to travel to the Saami Conference in Snåase/Snåsa. The passengers were Jouni Aikio from Vuohču, Jouni J. Vest from Roavvesavvon, Reidar Suomenrinne from Ohcejohka, Uula A. Länsman from Áŋŋel and Artto Sverloff from Čeavetjávri. The captain was Pekka Petteri Niemi from Roavvenjárga.
The 23rd Saami Conference will commemorate the key events of its 70-year history and the sacrifices made. The five representatives from the Finnish delegation were important voices within their communities and in Sámi society as a whole, and their disappearance in 1974 was deeply felt across all of Sápmi.
“We lost many key persons, who were working to secure Sámi rights and strengthen our society. This impacted for a long time, especially on the Finnish side of Sápmi. Now we want to pay our respects and remember this loss.” Says Áslat Holmberg, chair of Suoma Sámiid Guovddášsearvi.
With the memorial ceremony 52 years after the aviation accident, the Saami Council wishes to honour their memory.
The memorial ceremony will include a screening of the documentary Gosa šaddet áddján by Suvi West, granddaughter of Jouni J. Vest, and representatives from the families of the late Sámi politicians will be present.