The statement was held by the President of the Saami Council, Per-Olof Nutti. Photo: Saami Council
Statement by Per-Olof Nutti, President of the Saami Council, delivered at the High-Level Segment of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia, on 28 October 2026.
Thank you, Chair.
I am a Sámi reindeer herder from the Swedish side of Sápmi. As herders, we are on the land daily. Practicing sustainable land use. Safeguarding ecosystems. We are already working towards the targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework. Protecting nature is a default feature of being Indigenous Peoples. But for us to do more, Parties must respect and uphold our right to participate in decisions that affect us. The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples affirms minimum standards for our survival and dignity.
“The Saami Council opposes structures where Indigenous Peoples’ rights are conflated with the interests of others. We do not oppose participation from those of other groups. ”
The Saami Council opposes structures where Indigenous Peoples’ rights are conflated with the interests of others. We do not oppose participation from those of other groups. But if it comes at the expense of Indigenous Peoples, we will not achieve full, effective and meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples.
The Modus Operandi of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) must ensure that each socio-cultural region of Indigenous Peoples can nominate one Friend of the Bureau, and that one of the co-chairs is nominated by Indigenous Peoples only.
Without this, we urge the COP not to adopt the Modus Operandi. We appeal directly to the Armenian Presidency. A Modus Operandi that fails to ensure the full, effective and meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples would not be an outcome to celebrate. We sincerely hope to leave Yerevan with a positive legacy.
Giitu – Thank you.
The Saami Council delegation at COP17: Per-Olof Nutti, President of the Saami Council; Eirik Larsen, Head of the Human Rights Unit; and Marit Michelsen, Adviser in the Arctic and Environment Unit.
Photo: Saami Council / Piera Heaika Muotka