Establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi People

The Government appointed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi People on 28 October 2021. The matter was prepared in close cooperation with representatives of the Finnish state, the Sámi Parliament and the Skolt Sámi Siida Council. 

The objective of the commission’s work is to gather Sámi people’s experiences of the actions of the Finnish state and authorities and their effects on the Sámi people, and to make this information visible.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi People is an impartial and independent body. The commission consists of five commissioners, two of whom are appointed based on a proposal from the Government, two based on a proposal from the Sámi Parliament and one based on a proposal from the Skolt Sámi Siida Council.

Decision to establish the commission

The Government appointed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi People on 28 October 2021

Decision on establishing a truth and reconciliation commission concerning the Sámi people (in Finnish)

In Sámi languages:

• Sápmelaččaid duohtavuođa- ja soabadankommišuvnna ásahanmearrádus
• Sämmilij tuotâvuotâ- já sovâdâttâmkomissio asâttemmiärádâs
• Säʹmmlai tuõttvuõtt- da suåvâdvuõttkomissio altteem-meäʹrtummuš

The mandate

The mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi People was drawn up in 2019 in cooperation with the Sámi Parliament and the Skolt Sámi Siida Council:

Mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi People

Mandate in the Sámi languages:

• Sápmelaččaid duohtavuođa- ja soabadallankommišuvnna mandáhta
• Sämmilij tuotâvuotâ- já sovâdâttâmkomissio mandaat
• Säʹmmlai tuõttvuõtt- da suåvâdvuõttkomissio mandaatt

Preparations for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi People

The Government launched preparations for a truth and reconciliation process concerning the Sámi people in October 2017. In cooperation with the Finnish Sámi Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Justice explored how the process should be implemented and what kind of role and composition the independent commission should have.

In summer 2018, a consultation round was organised in the Sámi homeland and the largest cities in Finland to hear people’s thoughts and ideas about the process, the commission’s mandate and composition, and how the commissioners should be selected. A report on the material collected during the consultation round was drawn up and published in six languages. 

The work to establish the Truth and Reconciliation Commission continued in line with the Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government. The Government appointed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Concerning the Sámi People on 28 October 2021. The term of the commission will continue until 31 December 2023.