A Sami Population without indigenous perspective? – altaposten.no

Reply to Ulf Tore Johansen’s chronicle « The Northern Calotte People will have a change in the Sami Policy »

When Ulf Tore Johansen, vice presidential candidate and parliamentary deputy head of the Northern Calotte people, claims that they want to build fellowship while criticizing reindeer husbandry in the same breath, it becomes difficult to take the message seriously.

Occasionally, it may seem that someone in the Sami wording believes that lifting one group of samples means that other groups must be reduced. It’s wrong. Sami rights are not a game where some have to lose for others to win.

The Northern Calotte people claim that they « stand alone on a policy based on community building and equality » because, in their view, the Sami Parliament is governed by « special interests ». This not only shows that their political project is outside the framework for indigenous rights, they also challenge the mandate the Sami Parliament is based on, which is promoting and protecting Sami rights. There is every reason to ask the question: Who is really included, when indigenous rights are excluded in a democracy just created to promote and protect them?

A Sami Parliament for « everyone », as the Northern Calotte people want it, may sound nice. But when the indigenous perspective loses its place, the Sami Parliament moves away from what it is actually created to be. The Northern Calotte people give the impression that the Sami Parliament can easily be converted into a tool for district policy and local priorities, only a political shift occurs.

Let’s be honest, this is to mislead voters. The Mandate of the Sami Parliament is laid down by the Storting and anchored in the Constitution, it cannot be changed according to its own political agenda.

It is perfectly fine that the Northern Calotte people want a majority to « change the policy » of the Sami Parliament, which is something everyone who makes for election wishes. Still, I have to honestly admit that I still wonder who they really think is part of the community they talk so warmly about.

We at NSR fight for all Sami to fulfill their rights. Equality is not created by tearing down anyone, but by lifting everyone.

Marit kemi

2. Candidate for

The Sami Parliament

Nsr in the northern constituency

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