Saami Conferences

The Saami conferences have been an arena for discussions and spreading of information for over 50 years where common Saami policy and culture milestones and strategies have been shaped. The first Saami Conference was arranged in Jokkmokk, Sweden, in August 31st – September 3rd, 1953. This conference appointed a working group to prepare for the establishment of the Saami Council. It was then founded on the second Saami Conference, which was held in Karasjok, Norway, on August 18th. In 2053, a hundred years will have passed since the first Saami Conference. The theme of the first Saami Conference was to activate the Saami. The conference stated, amongst other, the following: 

This became the start of the Saami movement to establish and organize cooperation across the national borders. The Nordic Saami Council was established and the second Saami Conference in Karasjok, Norway, in 1956, approved the decision. The work of the Saami Council and the Saami Conferences has been very important for the status and organization of the Saami people. The need for this work has only grown as time has passed.

The Saami Council is an important voice in the Saami civil society, since it is a cooperation forum of Saami organizations in four different countries. The Saami Council’s position on the international arena is strong. Even though the Saami Parliaments and the Saami Parliamentary Council are increasing their participation and fulfilling their roles more and more in the international arena, it is important that the Saami Council’s independent and free voice still remains strong.

The Saami Conference is the highest body of the Saami Council and therefore the most important forum of the Saami Council. It is to be arranged every four years. The official delegations of the Saami Conference consist of the member organizations of the Saami Council, in all 72 delegates representing member organizations from Finland, Norway, the Russian Federation and Sweden, with 18 delegates from each country. The Saami Conference approves the Saami Council’s annual and economic reports from the last four years, appoints the Saami Council’s representatives and adopts the Saami Conference’s declaration and resolutions to issues brought to the conference.

The Saami Council's Honorary Award is presented to a person, organization, association or institution in honorable recognition of their efforts for the best of the Saami People.

Efforts that:

• strengthen the cohesiveness and sense of unity of the Saami people

• help to maintain traditions, way of life, way of thinking, language and other immaterial traditions of the Saami

• maintain and develop the above mentioned also in relation to today's society

The Honorary Award for 2017 was given during the 21st Saami Conference in 2017.

The Saami Council's Honorary Award, 1985 - 2017

• 1985 Áillohaš - Nils-Aslak Valkeapää

• 1986 Lars Pirak

• 1987 Iver Jåks

• 1988 Kathrine Johnsen

• 1989 Pekka Lukkari

• 1990 Edel Hetta Eriksen

• 1991 Matti Sverloff

• 1992 Mari Boine

• 1993 Nina Afanasjeva

• 1994 Samuli Aikio

• 1995 Aslak Nils Sara

• 1996 Ella Holm Bull

• 1997 Anna-Maria Blind

• 1998 Louise Bäckman

• 1999 Guoládaga sámesearvi

• 2000 Mikkel Isak Mathisen Oskal

• 2004 Nils Jernsletten ja Hans Guttorm

• 2008 Susanna Angéus-Kuoljok

• 2013 John Trygve Solbakk, Aage Solbakk, Lemet-Jon Ivvár ja Ingrid Nordal

• 2017 Ole Henrik Magga