The Sámi Parliament in Finland elected its officials for the term 1 Sept. 2024 – 31 Dec. 2027 – The Executive Board elected in January continues its work
Photo: Ville Fofonoff / The Sámi Parliament in Finland
Pirita Näkkäläjärvi continues as the President of the Sámi Parliament in Finland for the term 1 September 2024 – 31 December 2027. Näkkäläjärvi was previously elected president in the constituent meeting held on 30 January 2024. Näkkäläjärvi is a 46-year-old MSc in Economics and MSc in Media and Communications from Inari. The vice presidents and the executive board elected in January will also continue to perform their duties.
– It’s a great honour to be chosen President of the Sámi Parliament in Finland. I’m especially happy that the previous Executive Board enjoys the confidence of the Parliament and can thus continue with their good work, says President Näkkäläjärvi.
The constituent meeting of the Sámi Parliament was held on 23 September in the Cultural Centre Sajos, in the village of Inari. The meeting commenced with the singing of the Sámi national song in four languages, after which Anu Avaskari, the second-longest-serving member of the Parliament, opened the first meeting of the electoral period. The longest-serving member Anne Nuorgam was unable to attend the meeting.
In her opening speech, Avaskari took up, for example, the topical amendment of the Sámi Parliament Act.
– I hope that we will make progress on the issue of the Act on the Sámi Parliament. No-one benefits from us having this old law that no longer works and actually doesn’t even serve anyone, Representative Avaskari said.
In the meeting, the Sámi Parliament chose the needed officials for the present term (more information on the elected persons below). Before electing the officials, the meeting had a long pause for negotiations.
– I’m happy that after electing the presidents and the executive board, we could unanimously decide about the committee members and other positions. This is a good basis for working together for the rest of the term, President Näkkäläjärvi says.
In the meeting, the Sámi Parliament also approved its agenda for the term 2024–27.
The Sámi Parliament elected the following persons for positions of trust for the term 1 Sept. 2024 – 31 Dec. 2027:
Full-time President: Pirita Näkkäläjärvi
I Vice President: Leo Aikio
II Vice President: Tuomas Aslak Juuso
Executive Board of the Sámi Parliament
Pirita Näkkäläjärvi, Inari, North Sámi language
Leo Aikio, Inari, Inari Sámi language
Tuomas Aslak Juuso, Enontekiö, North Sámi language
Karen-Anni Hetta, Vuotso, North Sámi language
Asko Länsman, Utsjoki, North Sámi language
Tauno Ljetoff, Inari, Skolt Sámi language
Inka Musta, Helsinki, Inari Sámi language
In accordance with the Sámi Parliament’s rules of procedure, the Parliament’s Executive Board must represent the lingual and regional groups of the Sámi in Finland as well as possible. This refers to all the three living Sámi languages of Finland – Skolt, Inari and North Sámi – and the municipalities of Enontekiö, Inari, Utsjoki and Sodankylä. Furthermore, the share of both women and men in the Executive Board should be at least 40 percent pursuant to the Law on Equality.
Livelihood and Legal Committee
Members:
Nilla Tapiola, Chair, Utsjoki
Veikko Feodoroff, Deputy Chair, Inari
Kirsti Saijets, Inari
Marjaana Aikio, Inari
Kari Kyrö, Inari
Armi Palonoja, Vuotso
Nils-Johan Labba, Enontekiö
Deputy Members:
Anni-Sofia Niittyvuopio, Utsjoki
Heidi Hänninen, Inari
Marko Katajamaa, Inari
Jan Saijets, from outside the Sámi Homeland
Kaisu Nikula, Inari
Nilla Hirvasvuopio, Vuotso
Juhán-Tuommá Magga, Enontekiö
Educational Committee
Members:
Anni Koivisto, Chair, Inari
Nilla Tapiola, Deputy Chair, Utsjoki
Mathis Ole Vars, Vuotso
Anna-Katariina Feodoroff, Inari
Iiris Kangas, Inari
Marjaana Aikio, Inari
Laura Niittyvuopio-Valle, Utsjoki
Deputy Members:
Markku Porsanger, Utsjoki
Laura Kotavuopio, Enontekiö
Milla Pulska, Vuotso
Maarit Kiprianoff, from outside the Sámi Homeland
Henna Aikio, from outside the Sámi Homeland
Kari Torikka, Inari
Nilla Pieski, Utsjoki
Cultural Committee
Members:
Anu Avaskari, Chair, Inari
Niko Valkeapää, Deputy Chair, Enontekiö
Sisko Länsman, Utsjoki
Anu Magga, Vuotso
Iisko-Matti Näkkäläjärvi, Enontekiö
Inka Kangasniemi, Inari
Erkki Feodoroff, Inari
Deputy Members:
Aune Musta, Inari
Kari Toivo Lukkari, from outside the Sámi Homeland
Mika Aikio, Utsjoki
Jukka Palonoja, Vuotso
Anne Jaurun, from outside the Sámi Homeland
Anniliina Lassila, from outside the Sámi Homeland
Mari Gauriloff, from outside the Sámi Homeland
Sámi Language Council
Members:
Ulla-Maarit Magga, Chair, Enontekiö
Leena Niittyvuopio-Jämsä, Deputy Chair, Utsjoki
Anni Saara Aikio, Vuotso
Petter Morottaja, Inari
Suvi Niittyvuopio, Utsjoki
Jouni Aikio, Inari
Veikko Feodoroff, Inari
Deputy Members:
Inker-Anni Magga, Enontekiö
Marko Tervaniemi, Inari
Anna-Liisa Väyrynen, Vuotso
Hannu Kangasniemi, Inari
Ara Aikio, Utsjoki
Margareetta Suoninen, Inari
Terhi Harju, Inari
Social Affairs and Health Committee
Members:
Leena Niittyvuopio-Jämsä, Chair, Utsjoki
Ulla-Maarit Magga, Deputy Chair, Enontekiö
Aslak Pekkala, Inari
Heidi Eriksen, Utsjoki
Tinja Semenoff, from outside the Sámi Homeland
Niila Rahko, from outside the Sámi Homeland
Armi Palonoja, Vuotso
Deputy members:
Niilo Vuomajoki, Utsjoki
Tuomas Aslak Juuso, Enontekiö
Anu Avaskari, Inari
Aslak Niiittyvuopio, from outside the Sámi Homeland
Anne Mäkinen, from outside the Sámi Homeland
Tuuni Partti, from outside the Sámi Homeland
Inga Äärelä, Vuotso
Youth Council 2024–2025
Members:
Rosa-Máren Juuso
Niila-Juhán Valkeapää
Hánsa Ravna-Pieski
Saana Aikio
Mihku Näkkäläjärvi
Sárá-Márjá Keskitalo
Helmi Ljetoff
Deputy members:
Marielle Näkkäläjärvi
Matti Musta
Andaras Valle
Lilja Ljetoff
Uula Jouste
Tiia-Káren Alakorva
Maria Mäkinen
Sámi Parliamentary Council
Members:
Pirita Näkkäläjärvi
Tuomas Aslak Juuso
Tauno Ljetoff
Niko Valkeapää
Anni Koivisto
Karen-Anni Hetta
Janne Hirvasvuopio
Deputy members:
Leo Aikio
Ulla-Maarit Magga
Veikko Feodoroff
Asko Länsman
Anu Avaskari
Leena Niittyvuopio-Jämsä
Inka Musta
General Synod of the Church
Representative:
Aslak Pekkala
Deputy Representatives:
Tauno Ljetoff
Máret-Iŋgá Länsman
Diocesan Council
Member:
Aslak Pekkala
Deputy Members:
Tauno Ljetoff
Máret-Iŋgá Länsman
Sámi Educational Co-operation Body
Representatives:
Anni Koivisto, Chair
Marjaana Aikio, Deputy Chair
Maarit Kiprianoff
Body for Sámi Social and Health Affairs
Representatives:
Leena Niittyvuopio-Jämsä, Chair
Aslak Pekkala, Deputy Chair
Tinja Semenoff
Delegation for Inari Sámi Affairs
Members:
Anu Avaskari
Leo Aikio
Inka Musta
Aslak Pekkala
Petter Morottaja
Marko Tervaniemi
Anni Koivisto
Deputy Members:
Pasi Aikio
Heikki Nikula
Marjukka Helander
Sinikka Mäkinen
Henna Aikio
Yrjö Musta
Varpu Falck
Body on Ethical Instructions
Representative:
Anu Avaskari
Working Group of Indigenous Peoples of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council
Member:
Janne Hirvasvuopio
Deputy Member:
Anni Koivisto
Sámi Giellagáldu (Sámi Language Affairs), Board
Members:
Nilla Tapiola
Terhi Harju
Deputy Members:
Neeta Jääskö
Ulla-Maarit Magga
Meeting documents can be found here.
The Sámi Parliament has a plenary meeting 4–5 times a year, usually in the Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos in Inari. The meetings are public and they can be followed either in the Parliamentary Hall or through a Zoom webinar. The public can use the interpretation facilities of the room. Streaming also allows the public to listen to the interpretation in addition to the floor language.
The Sámi Parliament is a self-governmental body of the Sámi that was founded at the beginning of 1996 through a separate law, and it represents the Sámi both nationally and internationally in issues dealing with the tasks prescribed to it by legislation.
The 21 members and four deputy members of the Sámi Parliament are elected from among the Sámi through elections every four years. At least three members and one deputy member must be elected from each of the municipalities of the Sámi Homeland.
Further information:
Pirita Näkkäläjärvi
President
+358 44 753 3766
pirita.nakkalajarvi@samediggi.fi
