Here’s a summary of the speech delivered by Sámi Parliament President Silje Karine Muotka at the EU Arctic Forum and Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue 2025, held in Kittilä, Finland on June 26, 2025:
Key Points from the Speech:
Sámi Connection to the Ocean:
The Sámi view the Arctic Ocean as more than a resource—it is spiritually and culturally vital, with traditional fishing practices based on respect and balance with nature.
Challenges to the Arctic:
The Arctic Ocean is increasingly threatened by climate change, industrial development, and geopolitical interests, endangering ecosystems and Indigenous rights.
Four Main Calls to Action:
1. Indigenous Peoples as Rights-Holders:
Sámi and other Indigenous groups must be respected as rights-holders, not merely stakeholders. Participation must follow Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, in line with UNDRIP.
2. Inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge:
Traditional Sámi ecological knowledge should be integrated into scientific and environmental decision-making.
3. Stronger Regional Cooperation:
Indigenous institutions—like the Sámi Parliaments in Norway, Sweden, and Finland—must be included in Arctic cooperation, with EU backing.
4. Sustainability vs. Extractivism:
The case of the Nussir ASA copper mine in Repparfjord is highlighted as a contradiction to EU sustainability goals. The Sámi Parliament opposes the project due to its environmental and cultural impact.
Criticism of EU Policy:
Muotka criticized the EU’s support of Nussir ASA as a strategic project, despite its harmful effects on Sámi communities and contradiction with EU and Sámi rights standards.
Call to Responsibility:
The Arctic Ocean must be seen not just as an opportunity but a shared responsibility. Protection must be guided by Indigenous knowledge, legal rights, and a commitment to future generations.
Closing Message:
“If the ocean loses its balance, so do we.”
Muotka called for genuine cooperation and meaningful inclusion of Indigenous voices in shaping the Arctic’s future.
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