Planning a Sámi "arendalsuka" in 2025

As a part of the interreg-project ReCap ASáp - Regaining capacity in a changing Sápmi, are the Saami Council and Suoma Sámi Guovdašsearvi planning a “Sámi Arena” in Kautokeino 9.-15. June 2025.

The aim of the interreg-project is to strengthen the Sámi civil society’s capacity to effectively participate in social debates, political engagement and advocacy. 

- We have been inspired by events such as Arendalsuka in Norway, Almedalsveckan in Sweden, and SuomiAreena in Finland when we now invite the whole of Sápmi to “Sámi Arena” in Kautokeino. We hope that organisations, institutions, politicians, media, and individuals already save the date, says Åsa Larsson Blind, project manager and vice president in the Saami Council.

“Sámi Arena” will have a common-Sámi perspective. There will be an extensive programme that gathers actors from the whole of Sápmi, and with an aim of engaging our society in debates on solutions for the future, policy development and knowledge exchange. The programme will also contain cultural arrangements and social events. 

- Social debate in Sápmi is unfortunately characterised by the fact that we are one people in several states, and so far there have been few arenas where we gather Sámi social actors across the borders, continues Larsson Blind.

-A more detailed programme will be announced, but there is no question that this will be the place to be if you are interested in Sámi social development. 

The work on designing the programme begins now. The organisers invite actors in Sápmi to contribute to the programme in the form of events or the topic for sessions.

- The ambition is that this will be an event for the entire Sámi community and we hope that many organisations and other actors will want to help organise events, or otherwise contribute. We encourage anyone who is interested to contact us, concludes Larsson Blind.

Contact:

Åsa Larsson Blind, asa@saamicouncil.net