Follow-up events of the Summit of Barents Euro-Arctic Indigenous Sámi People

The Summit was a unique event, gathering for the first time a large number of Sámi parliamentarians and representatives from Finland, Sweden and Norway to a dialogue with the representatives of the EU institutions and the European Parliament. The purpose was to enhance dialogue and cooperation between the Sámi Parliaments and the EU institutions.

Climate change in the Arctic region, the European Union’s northern policy and Sámi questions, as well as traditional knowledge and cultural heritage of the Sámi people were main themes discussed in the Summit.

The first Summit follow-up event was organized in Budapest, Hungary in May 2023. The next follow-up events were organized in London and Brussels in collaboration with the Barents Working Group of Indigenous Peoples, embassies of Finland in London and in Brussels, the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux, the Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland, the Sámi Parliament in Finland, and the Finnish Presidency of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council 2021-2023.

During the follow-up events, Ms. Anni Koivisto´s delegation participated e.g., in a round table discussion in the Egmont institute with Belgian and European experts on Arctic and Antarctic issues, met with members of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium and the House of Lords in UK, among other decision-makers and researchers. The delegation shared information about the impact of climate change on Sámi livelihoods, as well as the traditional knowledge and cultural practices of the Sámi community.

As part of the events, the Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland, and the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux screened a documentary film directed by Suvi West, Eatnameamet – Our Silent Struggle, in London and in Brussels. The film was introduced to the audience by representatives of the Sámi community, Chair of the Barents Working Group of Indigenous Peoples, 1st Vice President of the Sámi Parliament in Finland, Koivu-Jusse Ánne (Anni Koivisto) and Sámi activist Elle Biehtár Arvvu Iiddá (Ida-Maria Helander).