Climate Central to Sámi Truth and Reconciliation in Finland

The Finnish government has released a Truth and Reconciliation report documenting historical harms inflicted on the Indigenous Sámi people. This report stands out by placing climate change at the core of its findings and recommendations, connecting past injustices to present environmental challenges such as warmer winters, unpredictable weather, and encroaching mining and energy projects.

For millennia, the Sámi maintained a semi-nomadic lifestyle centered on reindeer herding and fishing across regions now divided by modern borders, including Finland. Despite not codifying forced integration into law, Finland imposed its language and culture through residential boarding schools, leading to cultural alienation. World War II evacuations and postwar redevelopment further eroded Sámi territories. Today, approximately 10,000 Sámi live in Finland out of a global population of 75,000 to 100,000.

Climate impacts exacerbate these issues: milder winters increase rainfall that forms ice crusts, hindering reindeer foraging; extended warm seasons push the tree line higher, limiting access to foliage; and declining salmon populations reduce food sources. Additional pressures come from mining, wind power, and military training in the Arctic amid rising geopolitical tensions.

The report offers nearly 70 recommendations, emphasizing Sámi authority over land use, collaboration on adaptation plans blending science and traditional knowledge, forest protections, reparations from the forestry industry, and a Sámi Business and Climate Fund. The prime minister has expressed intent to apologize, though critics stress the need for concrete actions beyond words to achieve true reconciliation.

The Finnish government has long influenced the lives of the Indigenous Sámi through policies that eroded their cultural and territorial integrity. For thousands of years, the Sámi pursued a semi-nomadic existence based on reindeer herding and fishing, moving freely across areas now encompassing Norway, Sweden, Russia, and Finland.

The establishment of modern states disrupted this way of life. Unlike Norway and Sweden, Finland did not formally codify the forced integration of the Sámi, yet the imposition of the Finnish language and culture became standard practice.

Impact of Residential Schools

Sámi children were sent to residential boarding schools, where exposure to their native languages diminished and connections to their heritage weakened. This process alienated many from their cultural roots.

World War II and Postwar Changes

During World War II, evacuations from Northern Finland displaced the Sámi. The state's redevelopment of the region afterward led to significant losses of Indigenous lands, further marginalizing their traditional territories.

These historical actions form the backdrop of the recent Truth and Reconciliation report, which catalogs years of such harms.

Climate change emerges as a pivotal element in the challenges facing the Sámi, intertwining with historical governmental shortcomings. The report highlights how environmental shifts directly undermine traditional livelihoods.

Warmer winters in the north have led to more rainfall during the cold season. When rain falls on snow, it creates a hard ice crust that prevents reindeer from accessing lichen and grass beneath.

• Reindeer herding becomes more labor-intensive, as herders must supplement natural forage with expensive imported feed.
• The extended warm period causes the tree line to advance, complicating access to leaves for reindeer.
• Salmon populations are declining, reducing a key food source for the Sámi.

Beyond natural changes, human activities compound the issues. Lands traditionally used by the Sámi are targeted for mining and wind power development. Additionally, increased use by the Finnish Defence Force for training exercises reflects rising Arctic geopolitical tensions.

Aslak Holmberg, a Saami Council member and former member of the Sámi Parliament, noted the added burdens: “Replacing reindeer game with imported food is expensive and requires a great deal of extra labor.”

The report presents almost 70 recommendations aimed at improving relations between Finland and the Sámi, with a strong emphasis on climate resilience and land rights. These measures seek to empower the Sámi in managing their territories.

Key proposals include granting the Sámi greater authority over land use and regulations. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is urged to partner with the Sámi Climate Council on an adaptation plan that integrates scientific research and traditional knowledge.

• Studies indicate that combining these approaches often yields the best results for ecosystem restoration.
• Old-growth forests in Sámi areas must be shielded from the forestry industry.
• The industry should provide reparations to Sámi reindeer herders for damages to forests.
• A Sámi Business and Climate Fund, developed with the Sámi Parliament, would support climate initiatives while safeguarding livelihoods.

Coordination with the Finnish Defence Forces is also recommended to minimize impacts on herding. Holmberg emphasized: “Giving the Sámi more authority over their own territory is crucial, and coordination with the Finnish Defence Forces, for example, could diminish the military’s effect on reindeer herding.” He added, “The Sámi are also sensing this tension in the security situation. So it’s not like Sámi are against the military activities, but a lot could be done to improve or avoid the negative impacts of military activities.”

Upon the report's release, the Finnish prime minister stated that the government should apologize to the Sámi for the harms inflicted. This acknowledgment marks an initial step toward accountability.

However, some view this expression of regret as insufficient without follow-through. Holmberg cautioned: “I think just giving an apology would be very performative at this point, if there are no commitments to actually change anything.”

Truth and Reconciliation Commission chair Hannele Pokka described the document as the beginning of a longer repair process. She expressed optimism about public response: “We have only tried to describe the truth. And then we must continue speaking about reconciliation.”

The integration of climate considerations into reconciliation efforts positions Finland to address both historical injustices and future sustainability. Implementing the recommendations could foster cooperative solutions, blending Indigenous knowledge with modern governance to protect Sámi ways of life amid evolving environmental and geopolitical pressures. This approach not only honors past commitments but also builds resilience for the Arctic region.