Sweden initiates a commission on the injustices suffered by the Sami
The Swedish government says it will appoint a special commission to investigate the indigenous Sami people.
The “Truth Commission” will examine the Swedish colonization of Lapland and its “historical” attitudes towards the minority.
Last week, Finland also set up a body to “gather experience of the Finnish state’s actions by the Sami people”.
For several years, the advocates of the indigenous population have called on the Swedish government to investigate the matter.
– It is now time for the history and reality of the Sami people to be highlighted, says Marie Persson, chair of the Sami Parliament’s group for a truth commission.
Sweden’s Minister of Culture and Democracy Amanda Lind said in a statement that she was “very pleased” that the Commission had been set up.
“The government has a responsibility to increase knowledge about the attacks, abuses and racism to which the Sami are exposed,” she added.
The independent five – man commission will begin hearings in the coming weeks and end its work in November 2023.
The Sami, who are believed to have come to the far north of Europe at the end of the last ice age, live mainly on traditional reindeer husbandry.
Between 80,000 and 100,000 people are believed to live in northern Finland, Norway, Sweden and parts of Russia. As many as 40,000 Sami live in Sweden, even though there is no official census.