Sunna Svendsen (15) criticized the foul in the High North report – NRK Sápmi

– The message is called ‘Norwegian People, Opportunities and Interests in the North’. There should be both Norwegian and Sami interests. There are two people in the north. Sami has lived here for all the years.

Sunna Svendsen said this as Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide (H) sat directly across from her around the fire in Alta, where the message was presented. The Prime Minister also received criticism, when she followed the presentation digitally.

Svendsen is from Karasjok and is one of 50 young people who have contributed to the message.

Around the fire at Alta, he felt there was one last suggestion about the message.

– I just had to say it like it was. Since we live here and decide our future. We cannot let go of the silence that only says “Norwegian interests”. I think it is a step in the wrong direction that the Sami are not mentioned there, Svendsen tells NRK.

Has prioritized Sami

Both Solberg and Søreide were happy with the 15-year-old’s commitment.

At the same time, they made it clear that the Sami have been given priority in the new message.

– When we started working on the report, we saw very quickly that Sami’s questions need to be consistent in the report, rather than being an isolated chapter, says Søreide.

Svendsen was not entirely satisfied with the ministers’ response. She promises to ask more critical questions.

– I’ll continue on this track. I felt it was natural to bring up the problems of the Sami on national platforms, says Svendsen.

Søreide notes that the government has received valuable input from the Sami Parliament.

The message will set the course for the future in the north. Nine years have passed since the previous one was made.

The word Sami is mentioned 223 times in this year’s version. Compared to the previous message, Sami was mentioned only 38 times.

These are the Sami cases

The government, among other things:

• Strengthen Sami culture, cultural industries and tourism together with the Sami Parliament
• Map the competence situation and the need for knowledge and competence about the Sami language and culture
• Establish a meteorological radar in Rássegivalesárri in the municipality of Kautokeino to improve the monitoring and warning of extreme weather conditions and floods in the area.

The Sami Parliament is satisfied with the dialogue it has had with the government in this work.

– This is also an important political tool for us. It will be used to develop our traditional areas on our terms, says Sami Parliamentary Councilor Silje Karine Muotka.

Clarity on indigenous law

Muotka also misses something in the message.

– It should have been even clearer that human rights and the rights of indigenous peoples form the basis of a good and future-oriented Upper North policy, he says.

This would have been useful in cases where the invasion of nature and the interests of the Sami are at odds.

– It is the dilemma between protecting the livelihoods of indigenous peoples and actively facilitating usurpation. Interventions that involve a large industrial activity, with a devastating effect on indigenous peoples, he says.