The Sami Issue in Modern Finnish Politics

Abstract

The Sami are the only recognised small indigenous people in Europe. In Finland, the Sami face systematic barriers to education, employment and access to cultural resources. Discrimination against the Sami also manifests itself in the form of negative stereotypes and prejudices, which creates social and economic inequalities. This article is devoted to the study of the problem of preserving the national identity of the Sami against the background of the global practice of integration policies. Aim – to characterise the violations of the fundamental rights of the Sami indigenous people and to identify opportunities for overcoming their discrimination in the Finnish community. Results: the paper presents the criteria for the definition of indigenous people, and also outlines the rights enshrined in the world’s recognised institutions: the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as ILO Convention No. 169. The work studies the problems of ensuring equal provision of services in the Sami language, violation of the right to vote in the Sami Parliament, the right of ownership of land, and others. Conclusions: discrimination against the Sami in Finland is a serious problem that includes denial of access to land and resources, as well as insufficient protection and recognition of their rights.