The Sámi Parliament

The Sámi Parliament is the self-government body of the Sámi people in Finland. It was established by the Sámi Parliament Act at the beginning of 1996. The Sámi Parliament was established on a constitutional basis following the constitutional reform of 1995. The predecessor to the Sámi Parliament was the Sámi Delegation, which was established by government decree. The Sámi Delegation was active from 1973 to 1995. 

The reformed Sámi Parliament Act entered into force on 1.8.2025. The aim of the reform is to protect and promote the realisation of Sámi self-determination and to improve the preconditions for self-government concerning the Sámi language and culture, as well as for the Sámi Parliament’s operations.

In connection with the reform of the Sámi Parliament Act, the Sámi Parliament’s general jurisdictions were also revised. The task of the Sámi Parliament is to decide on matters concerning the Sámi people’s own language, culture and status as an Indigenous People and to carry out related tasks. In other matters, the Sámi Parliament promotes the realisation of Sámi self-determination. The Sámi Parliament also acts as an expert on Sámi-language education and training to safeguard the maintenance and development of the Sámi language and culture and promotes their development.

The Sámi Parliament operates under the administrative branch of the Ministry of Justice, but is independent from the authorities of the state government. Operations at the Sámi Parliament are financed by the national budget.

According to 2 § of the Sámi Parliament Act, the state budget must include sufficient funding for the tasks specified in the Act. In the draft State budget for 2026 (22.9.2025), 4,895,000 EUR has been proposed under the Ministry of Justice main title, moment 25.01.50, for expenditure arising from the maintenance of Sámi cultural self-government.

According to paragraph 2 of 8 § of the Sámi Parliament Act, the Sámi Parliament decides on grants awarded through it. When carrying out this task, the Sámi Parliament acts as a government grant authority.

The Sámi Parliament represents the Sámi in its national and international tasks. The Sámi Parliament carries out its international activities in cooperation with other Sámi organisations, including the Sámi Parliaments in Norway and Sweden, through the Sámi Parliamentary Council, as well as in cooperation with the Saami Council.

The Sámi Parliament enjoys autonomous power of decision. Annually, the Sámi Parliament provides approximately 200 initiatives, propositions, and statements to various authorities. The Sámi Parliament also appoints representatives to various working groups.  

One of the main activities of the Sámi Parliament consists of consultations and negotiations with government officials.

The cooperation and obligation to negotiate under 9§ of the Sámi Parliament Act has been reformed to emphasise cooperation between authorities and the Sámi Parliament and to align with the principle of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) as developed in international Indigenous rights law. Authorities must, by available means, 1) promote the maintenance and development of the Sámi languages and the Sámi people’s right and preconditions to maintain and develop their culture, including their traditional livelihoods; and 2) reduce the adverse impacts of their measures on the Sámi languages and on the Sámi people’s right and preconditions to maintain and develop their own culture, including their traditional livelihoods.

In addition to nationwide legislation, operations at the Sámi Parliament are guided by a plan of operations, which is approved by the Sámi Parliament Plenum. The plan of operations governs e.g. appointed positions, various parliamentary bodies and their responsibilities, and administrative procedures at the Sámi Parliament.  

At the beginning of each parliamentary term, the Sámi Parliament Plenum agrees upon a plan of operations for that term. The plan of operation establishes the goals for the parliamentary term. More precise goals for each year are established in the budget for that year. The fulfillment of these goals is assessed in the annual report. Sámi Parliament personnel policies are guided by a set of personnel policy documents, which include a personnel policy plan as well as an equality and non-discrimination plan.  

The head office of the Sámi Parliament is in Inari, inside the Sámi Cultural Center Sajos. The Sámi Parliament also has a secondary office in Enontekiö. 

In addition to the Sámi Parliament, the Skolt Sámi have their own separate decision-making body, the Skolt Saami Siida Administration. The Skolt Saami Siida Administration was legislated in the Skolt Act (253/1995). The Skolt Act aims to improve the living conditions and livelihoods of the Skolt Sámi people and the Skolt Sámi region, in addition to upholding and advancing Skolt Sámi culture. The Skolt Sámi area is in the eastern part of the municipality of Inari. Unlike the Sámi Parliament Act, the Skolt Act falls under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.  

The Sámi are one people across four countries. Sámi in Norway, Finland, and Sweden have their own representative bodies, the Sámi Parliaments. 

The Sámi Parliament of Norway was established in 1987 (Act 1987:56) and began its work in 1989. Norway has ratified ILO Convention 169 on the rights of Indigenous peoples. The Constitution of Norway recognizes the Sámi as an Indigenous group. 

The Sámi Parliament of Sweden was established in 1992 (Act 1992:1433) and began its work at the beginning of 1993. The Sámi Parliament of Sweden is both an autonomous institution and a national agency. The Sámi Parliament of Sweden operates under the Ministry of Culture. The Constitution of Sweden recognizes the Sámi as a people.