Sámediggi. Elected assembly for the Sámi people in Norway

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1 Sámediggi Elected assembly for the Sámi people in Norway

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3 The Sámi nation shall have its own national Sámi Parliament elected by and from among the Sámi people. The Sámediggi is an expression of recognition that the Sámi are one of two peoples in Norway: Sámi and Norwegians. It was opened in autumn 1989 by H.R.H. King Olav V. The Alta conflict, that is, the opposition to damming the Alta and Kautokeino watercourses in the 1970s and 1980s, precipitated the process that led to the establishment of the Sámediggi. The demonstrations in Alta and Oslo turned the spotlight on the oppression of the Sámi and of Sámi culture. Even though the resistance to the dam failed, in 1980, the Alta conflict led the Norwegian authorities to commission a public report on the Sámi s cultural and political rights. The Sámi s rights to land, water and resources were also studied. In 1984, the Sámi Rights Council published the first of many specialised studies: Norwegian Public Report (NOU) 1984:18 Regarding the Sámi s legal status. This report paved the way for the Sámi Act in 1978 and the creation of the Sámediggi in It also led to the adoption of a new provision in the Constitution of Norway in 1988, 108: It is the responsibility of the authorities of the State to create conditions enabling the Sámi people to preserve and develop its language, culture and way of life. 3

4 The Sámediggi The Sámediggi is the elected national assembly for the Sámi in Norway. Thirty-nine representatives are elected by seven constituencies every fourth year. 39 Thirty-nine representatives are elected by seven constituencies every fourth year. o l e he n r i k m a g g a n s r s v e n-roa l d n y s t ø n s r

5 THE SÁMI PARLIAMENTARY COUNCIL in Norway The Sámi Parliaments in Norway, Sweden and Finland cooperate through the Sámi Parliamentary Council (SPC). The Russian Sámi are permanent participants in this cooperation. The Sámediggi Plenary Assembly is the supreme governing body of the Sámi parliament. Four committee and plenary meetings are held each year. The Sámediggi s plenary assembly meets in the Sámi Parliament Building in Karasjok. The plenary can address all issues considered to impact the Sámi people. The leadership of the plenary implements the Sámediggi s procedures and administrates parliamentary meetings. It also deals with the parliament s representational responsibilities. The president of the plenary is formally the highest ranking MP in the Sámediggi and leads the work done by the plenary assembly. The expert committees handle the preparations for the Sámediggi s plenary sessions. The MPs are members of one of the three expert committees. The committees prepare all items that the Sámediggi Executive Council has proposed for political treatment in plenary. They make recommendations based on the Sámediggi Executive Council s studies and proposals. It is while in committee that issues are often decided. The Sámediggi Executive Committee consists of five members. The President of the Sámediggi is elected by the plenary assembly of the Sámediggi. The four other members of the Council are appointed by the president of the Sámediggi. The Sámediggi Executive Council is responsible for the day-to-day executive policies and activities of the Sámediggi and the administration. The Sámediggi Executive Council serves as the parliament s cabinet. It both initiates items for discussion and implements political decisions. The president of the Sámediggi chairs the Sámediggi Executive Council and leads the ongoing political activities. The president generally serves as the Sámediggi s face to the outside world. Parliamentarianism is practised in the Sámediggi. The Sámediggi Executive Council governs as long as it has the confidence of the Sámediggi plenary. a i l i k e s k i t a l o n s r e g i l o l l i d n a a i l i k e s k i t a l o n s r

6 1990s: Sámi political mobilisation 2014 marks the 25th anniversary of the Sámediggi. However, the notion of Sámi self-determination and a separate parliament was born in the early 1900s. The most severe Norwegianification policy against the Sámi and national minorities in Norway took place from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s The official Norwegian policy was to obliterate the Sámi culture, and to fully assimilate the Sámi into Norwegian society. The Sámi were to cease to exist as a people and a nation. Resistance and political mobilisation against the Norwegianification policy started in the early 1900s. The first Sámi newspaper was published, and a Sámi named Isak Saba was elected to Stortinget (the Norwegian Parliament) in Gradually, the Sámi s activities evolved, but they lacked arenas and organisations. Political debates often took place in connection with religious services and meetings, in churches and meeting houses here and there. The reindeer herder Elsa Laula Renberg eventually emerged as a spokeswoman for better organisation of Sámi politics at the national and Nordic levels. It was also Renberg who was behind the organisation of the first national Sámi conference in the Methodist Church in Trondheim in The politician Martin Tranmæl also attended that meeting, making an appeal to the delegates to encourage political mobilisation. The national conference marked the onset of the organised resistance on the part of the Sámi against the Norwegianification policy. After the meeting, the following comments were observed in the newspaper Morgenposten: The mountain people returned home to the highlands and their day-to-day routines, comforted by the fact that they had gone down in history as a nation. But it was only after World War II that the first national Sámi organisations were founded, the Reindeer Herders Association of Norway in 1947 and the Norwegian Sámi Association in The Norwegian Sámi Council was established in 1964 as an advisory body for the Norwegian authorities on Sámi issues. The Norwegian Sámi Council was discontinued and replaced by the Sámediggi in

7 People, indigenous nations and human rights The legal position of indigenous peoples has improved significantly in recent decades. Human rights have now been extended to also include indigenous peoples. The UN s first agreement on indigenous rights was adopted in 1957 by the UN s International Labour Organization (ILO). Convention no. 107 Indigenous and Tribal Conventions included provisions on the recognition and protection of the cultural, religious, civilian and social rights of indigenous peoples. The next year, Prime Minister Einar Gerhardsen stated, in his 17th of May speech on Sámi Radio that: Representative government in Norway does not rest solely on the Constitution of 17 May It also rests on human rights, as formulated by the United Nations 10 years ago. Norway has ratified these human rights and they also apply fully to the Sámi in Norway. No one in Norway had ever before expressed such a radical attitude to indigenous people in general or the Sámi in particular. In 1990, Norway signed ILO Convention No. 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries. The UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was adopted by the UN in 1966 and ratified by Norway in It regulated an important main principle that was eventually also to include the indigenous peoples of the world: the right to self-determination. 1 All peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of this right, they freely determine their political position and freely promote their own economic, social and cultural development. In the 1960s, however, indigenous peoples were not considered a nation in the traditional sense. A nation was a concept that was generally understood to refer to an entire population within a territory. However, said convention discussed minorities in Article 27: In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language. In 2007, the UN declaration on indigenous people s rights was adopted, establishing the right to self-determination and a number of other factors: Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of this right, they freely determine their political position and freely promote their own economic, social and cultural development. Over the past 60 years, the provisions of international law concerning indigenous peoples have been in continuous flux. During this period, functions such as a special rapporteur for indigenous peoples under the auspices of the UN, the UN s Permanent Forum for Indigenous Peoples Issues and the UN Human Rights Council have been established. During the same period, the Sámi and other indigenous peoples have organised and worked to promote such changes at the international level. 7

8 SÁMEDIGGI BUILDING/ THE SÁMI PARLIAMENT BUILDING The Sámediggi Building in Karasjok was officially opened by H.R.H. King Harald in the autumn of About 50 employees and elected officials have their offices here. All plenary assembly and committee meetings are held here. SÁMEDIGGI Thirty-nice representatives are elected to the Sámediggi every four years. Representatives are elected from seven constituencies: Northern constituency Eastern constituency Gáisi constituency Ávjovárri constituency Western ocean constituency South Sámi constituency Southern Norway constituency 8

9 Sámediggi elections Sámi parliamentary elections are held every fourth year at the same time as elections to the Storting, the Norwegian national assembly. Anyone registered in the Sámediggi electoral roll can vote or run for office. All those who are entitled to vote in municipal council elections and who are registered in the Sámediggi s electoral roll can vote in Sámediggi elections. One must actively register in the Sámediggi electoral roll. The representatives are distributed relative to the number of votes for the individual lists or the parties in each constituency. election from each constituency is determined by the number of registered voters in the constituency in the most recent municipal and county elections. Anyone who perceives themselves as Sámi and who either has Sámi as their home language, or who has a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent with Sámi as their home language, can register on the Sámediggi electoral roll. Children of individuals who are or have been registered in the Sámediggi s electoral roll can also register. The number of representatives eligible for The administration s role and responsibilities The Sámediggi administration consists of 140 members of the professional staff. The administration has offices at different locations in Norway. The director general is the highest ranking administrative officer in the Sámediggi. The director general and the administration are politically under the auspices of the Sámediggi Executive Council. The main responsibility of the administration is to assist the Sámediggi Executive Council with reports and preparations for agenda items and to make recommendations to the Sámediggi Plenary Assembly. The administration is also responsible for the practical implementation of adopted policy on behalf of the Sámediggi Executive Council, and supervises the execution of the Sámediggi s various administrative responsibilities in a variety of areas. The administration carries out administrative responsibilities and provides services to the Sámi population in relation to schools, culture, language, industry, cultural artefacts, etc. The website displays a list of these tasks, as well as of the Sámediggi s different subsidy schemes. The Sámediggi is headquartered in Karasjok, but also has offices in Kautokeino, Varangerbotn, Tromsø, Evenes, Manndalen, Drag and Snåsa. The Sámediggi Library is open to the public and located in the Sámediggi Building in Karasjok. 9

10 The Sámediggi s budget The Sámediggi s budget consists of funds the Norwegian authorities make available through the government budget. The budget is adopted by the Sámediggi plenary assembly every autumn. The Sámediggi has no revenues beyond the annual grant over the government budget. The Sámediggi distributes its funds to cover administrative and political expenses, as well as to the various special disciplines and high-priority target areas to which the plenary assembly would like to give priority in the budget year. Each year, the Sámediggi deals with the issue of Future financial needs for the upcoming fiscal year. The purpose is to render visible Sámi society s need for budgetary resources for initiatives that can strengthen Sámi language, culture and community life. Subsequent to that, the Sámediggi Executive Council engages in a dialogue with representatives of the Norwegian Government and the Storting to inform them about the budgetary needs of the Sámediggi and the Sámi community. 10

11 THE SÁMEDIGGI S COUNCIL OF ELDERS The Sámediggi s power and influence The Sámediggi s Council of Elders has five members. The mandate of the Council of Elders is to make suggestions about Sámediggi s policies in respect of seniors. While the Sámediggi s role as a nationally elected parliament carries great symbolic power, the Sámediggi s power is also genuine and concrete. The Sámi people are a nation, and the Sámediggi is their national parliament in Norway. The Sámediggi can deal with any matters considered to involve the Sámi people. As a result, the Sámediggi represents a democratic, symbolic and moral power. The Sámediggi states opinions and argues in favour of its decisions in respect of the relevant authorities for the purpose of influencing national, regional or local policy in a direction that serves Sámi interests. However, it cannot be taken for granted that Sámediggi decisions will be taken into account. The Sámediggi has little genuine decisive and formal authority with regard to the cases that come before the parliament. However, that does not imply that the Sámediggi is without real power and influence. The Sámi, as an indigenous people, have the right to participate in important political issues through consultations (negotiations). This principle is reflected in both international law and in the consultation agreement between the Sámediggi and the Government of Norway (2005). In Norway, consultations are to take place between the Sámediggi and the Norwegian authorities. The goal is for the parties to reach agreement. This means that the Sámediggi is to have full insight into the authorities assessments and proposals before the consultations begin. Since 1989, the Sámediggi has been given decision-making authority in several areas. These include the compilation of Sámi teaching plans, questions linked to the Sámi language, the administration of cultural artefacts and a number of schemes linked to the funding of Sámi institutions and subsidy schemes. The Sámediggi also has the authority to file objections in relation to land planning issues when these run counter to Sámi interests. The Sámediggi is also the supreme electoral authority for the elections to the Sámi parliament, and for the Sámediggi s electoral roll. It is therefore reasonable to state that the Sámediggi has symbolic and real power and influence by virtue of its politics, role as a parliament, administrative tasks and budget. 11

12 The Sámediggi s budget Presented directly to the plenary assembly at every meeting. For information purposes and for plenary debate. Presented to the Sámediggi s plenary assembly every autumn. Revised budget presented every spring. Drawn up by an expert committee. The Sámediggi s annual report Presented to the Sámediggi s plenary assembly every spring. Drawn up by an expert committee. The Administration The Administration carries out administrative procedures and assists the Sámediggi Executive Council in the preparation of items for the agenda, studies and reports. Questions to the Sámediggi Executive Council MPs submit oral or written questions to the Sámediggi Executive Council, which replies orally and/or in writing. Notification of new items of business MPs can present new items of business to the plenary assembly or to the Sámediggi Executive Council. The agenda items are debated and followed up by the Sámediggi Executive Council. The Sámediggi Executive Council The Administration The Committees The Sámediggi in plenary assembly Briefings The Sámediggi Executive Council briefs the plenary assembly on a policy area on which it is working. Briefings are merely for information purposes and for debate directly in the plenary assembly. Reports Presented directly to the plenary assembly at every meeting. For information purposes and for plenary debate. The committees The committees consider agenda items from the Sámediggi Executive Council and make recommendations to the Sámediggi for resolutions by the plenary assembly. Proposals and comments MPs and groups can present proposals and comments directly on items in the plenary assembly in accordance with more detailed rules. The recording of objections MPs can demand to have their objections recorded on every item of business, including comments on points of order or voting. 12

13 From idea to decision The Sámediggi adopts policy. However, any policy must start with an idea. Policy-making is the process from the time an idea or a value is conceived until it becomes a social measure. This is a question of how power, benefits and responsibilities are distributed throughout society. However, long before anything is adopted as policy, someone must have an idea, pose a question or define a need. The Sámediggi Executive Council is responsible for putting forward proposals for budgets and annual reports to the Sámediggi s plenary assembly. The Sámediggi Executive Council can also promote other issues in the form of political communiqués or reports. In the Sámediggi plenary assembly, MPs have an opportunity to ask questions of the Sámediggi Executive Council on all items, and they can also propose items that the Sámediggi Executive Council should deal with or study. The Sámediggi s procedures contain rules for how the parliament should be organised and how it should conduct its work. At each meeting of the Sámediggi plenary assembly, the Sámediggi Executive Council reports on its activities since the preceding meeting. THE SÁMEDIGGI S YOUTH POLICY COMMITTEE The Sámediggi s Youth Policy Committee consists of five members. The committee plays an autonomous role, and is a link between the Sámediggi and Sámi youth. It can express an opinion on political items that involve Sámi youth. 13

14 This is how you can influence policy There are countless ways that you as a private individual can influence policy. Policies will affect you, regardless of whether or not you participate. Take advantage of your right to vote. Register in the Sámediggi electoral roll and vote in Sámi parliamentary elections. Your vote counts. Join a party or a list. Belonging to a Sámi political party or organisation will also give you an opportunity to influence the rosters of candidates put forward for election and the policies to be pursued. Get organised. Organisations have more power than individuals. Sámi organisations are consultative bodies and lobby groups in political areas that affect the organisations interests. Talk to elected officials. They have been elected to speak on behalf of the people. Take personal contact with a representative by letter, or a telephone call and present your case. Use the media. It is possible to draw attention to issues by using social or conventional media. Contact a journalist and try to get your case heard. Demonstrate. Join other like-minded individuals and organise an action or demonstration. Circulate petitions for signature, organise public events that promote your views. 14

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16 Sámediggi the Sámi Parliament Ávjovárgeaidnu 50 NO-9730 Karasjok Telephone: Websites Social media Facebook.com/samediggi Twitter.com/samediggi Flickr.com/photos/samediggi