Sámi Truth and Reconciliation Commission to submit final report

The Government appointed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi People in October 2021 in cooperation with the Sámi Parliament and the Skolt Sámi Siida Council. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has operated as an impartial and independent body. The Commission’s term will conclude at the end of this year.

Commission’s founding bodies to receive final report

“For the truth and reconciliation process to be successful, it is important to increase awareness and understanding of the Sámi as Finland’s only Indigenous people. It is time to right the wrongs and injustices done to the Sámi people. We hope that our work will open the way for reconciliation so that Finland’s two peoples, the Finns and the Sámi, can live together in good cooperation with one another,” said Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Hannele Pokka.

“I would like to thank the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its Secretariat for their significant and historic work. This work was very much needed. We will study the final report carefully and approach its recommendations and proposals with the utmost seriousness,” said Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

“I would like to thank everyone for your work so far, especially the Sámi people who took part in this process. We, the Commission’s founding bodies, must take this final report seriously: it contains a great deal of important, wide-ranging information that we can learn from. With this report as a foundation, it is now our turn to work actively together and start building reconciliation. Now is the time to adopt a new attitude to Sámi issues: our old ways of doing things are no longer enough,” said Tuomas Aslak Juuso, Acting President of the Sámi Parliament.

“Over the past four years, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi People has held extensive consultations with members of the Sámi community with a view to uncovering the truth. Despite some initial misgivings, we Sámi have taken part in this work, trusted the process and shared even very difficult experiences, which will be revealed in the final report we have submitted today,” said Skolt Saami Elder Veikko Feodoroff.

In many respects, the Commission’s work is a unique, historic process, both in Finland and internationally. The aim of the Commission was to identify and assess the historical and current discrimination experienced by the Sámi in Finland, including violations of rights and state assimilation policy.

The Commission has also increased awareness of the Sámi as an Indigenous people living in Finland, for example through a photo exhibition and two documentary films.

Members of the Commission:

• Hannele Pokka, Doctor of Laws, Professor of Practice (Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission)
• Heikki Paltto, Reindeer Herder, Entrepreneur (Vice Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission)
• Irja Jefremoff, Researcher, Master of Administrative Sciences
• Kari Mäkinen, Archbishop Emeritus, Doctor of Theology
• Anni-Siiri Länsman, Doctor of Social Sciences, University Lecturer Emerita

The Commission’s work was supported by a secretariat led by Secretary-General Ulla  Aikio-Puoskari. Read more about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi people at https://sdtsk.fi/en/home/

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report consists of two parts. Part I contains the Commission’s proposals for measures. Part II was drawn up based on an analysis of the material obtained in the consultations. Part II is divided into five sections: language, identity and power; cultural heritage and current culture; the multivoiced Sámi homeland; transforming traditional livelihoods; and Sámi society and the wellbeing of the Sámi.

In Finland, the status of the Sámi as an Indigenous people is guaranteed by the Constitution. Under section 17, subsection 3 of the Constitution, the Sámi, as an Indigenous people, have the right to maintain and develop their own language and culture. The amendments to the Act on the Sámi Parliament entered into force in August 2025.

Formal submission of the final report

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission will submit its final report to the Government, the Sámi Parliament and the Skolt Sámi Siida Council on 4 December 2025. After the submission of the final report, the Commission’s programme will continue with a three-day event open to the public organised in cooperation with the Baltic Circle International Theatre Festival, the Sámi Museum Siida and the Finnish National Theatre. The National Theatre and Siida will be the main stages for a historic event where the report and the experiences recorded in it will be read aloud by dozens of readers from 4 to 6 December. The reading event will also be streamed on YLE Arena.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission will hold its closing ceremony in the Sámi homeland at the Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos in Inari on 16 December at 12.00– 17.00.

Inquiries: Hannele Pokka, Chair, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi People, tel. +358 40 482 2772, Tuomas Aslak Juuso, Acting President, Sámi Parliament, tel. +358 40 687 3394, Veikko Feodoroff, Skolt Saami Elder, tel. +358 50 396 1297 and Nina Brander, Senior Specialist, Prime Minister’s Office, tel. +358 295 160 347.

Links:

• Final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
• Photos of the event
• Recording of the event
• Speech by Prime Minister Orpo at the event
• Speech by Acting President of the Sámi Parliament Tuomas Aslak Juuso at the event
• Statement by Skolt Saami Elder Veikko Feodoroff at the event