On the 10th of December the Sámi Indigenous Summit took place in the European Parliament in Brussels. The day highlighted the importance of Indigenous perspectives when it comes to the future of the High North.
The Summit formally begun with an opening by the President of the Sámi Parliament in Norway, Silje Karine Muotka and the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Christel Schaldemose. Their messages underscored the importance of Sámi participation in European decision-making, especially as geopolitical and environmental pressures intensify across Sápmi.
They were joined by representatives from youth organizations, EU institutions, and Sámi political bodies, including Saminuorra bringing forward a youth perspective, and several Members of the European Parliament. Together, they set the tone for a day focused on collaboration, recognition, and forward-looking policy.
The first panel discussion of the day focused on security and geopolitics in the North: Indigenous perspectives on current developments in Arctic and European security. Many points were raised on the need to integrate Sámi knowledge, perspective, and input in the discussion on security matters. In addition, existing legal frameworks protecting the rights of indigenous peoples exist and must be considered – also in security and defense planning. Speaking about Sámi rights in the context of security and defense should not be understood as being against security and defense but should instead be seen as making security and defense policy sustainable.
In the second panel discussions focused on environmental and climate concerns and how the Sámi communities can contribute to sustainable and just environmental policies. Important points were also made regarding how traditional Sámi knowledge systems could move beyond symbolic influence to meaningfully influence politics, as well as the importance of trust, long-term cooperation, and early-stage collaboration. The need for permanent Sámi representation within the EU system was also heavily emphasized.
The third and final panel delved into economic development and cross-border cooperation. Building on the important discussions from the previous Sámi Summit, the discussion focused on economic opportunities for the Sami communities, including youth engagement and entrepreneurship. The opportunities for EU funding systems to benefit Sámi communities were also highlighted, as well as a discussion on how to better integrate Sámi projects into the EU funding schemes.
By bringing representatives from the Sámi communities and European policymakers together in Brussels, the Summit highlighted a shared commitment to safeguarding Sámi rights, strengthening Arctic cooperation, and ensuring that Sámi futures are shaped with and not just for the Indigenous communities.
The Summit was organized by the Barents Euro Arctic Council’s Working Group of Indigenous Peoples (WGIP) with administrative support from The International Barents Secretariat, in cooperation with The Greens/EFA and The Left in the European Parliament.
