The indigenous people Saami and their cross-border cooperation in the North of Europe

• Main Author: Zashikhina, Ekaterina
• Other Authors: Johtamiskorkeakoulu - School of Management, University of Tampere
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: indigenous peoples; the right to self-determination; multiculturalism; Saami; Nordic countries; identity; Saami parliaments; Nordic Saami Convention; Master's Programme in International Relations CBU; Norway; saami
• Online Access: https://trepo.tuni.fi/handle/10024/95902

The indigenous people Saami have very special distinctive feature - they live on the territories of four states: Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Nowadays they enjoy all rights, which were given to them after decades of assimilation policy and mistreatment, therefore current Saami policy of Nordic states is a vivid example of good implementation of the multiculturalism. Cross-border cooperation of the Saami in political and other spheres highlights their common culture, history and goals. Such interaction between them across national borders leads not only to developments at the international level, but also influences the Saami policies within the states. This thesis analyzes current national Saami policies of Nordic states, consequences of the Saami people cooperation across borders of the states and the unifying factors, which form the basis of such cooperation process. Therefore the main object of the research is the ways of cooperation between the Saami from different countries. To examine this object I apply mostly the comparative method, because each Nordic country has its own historical background of relations with the Saami, individual current policy regarding indigenous peoples and therefore the extent of participation of the Saami from every country in a common cooperation depends on these above-mentioned factors. The basis for this analysis includes first of all the documents (declarations, agreements, draft convention), which were created and ratified by the Saami people of all Nordic states and also documents (constitutions, national acts and political parties programs), which are referred to the national law regarding the Saami rights on the territory of each state individually. The documents of the UN regarding all indigenous peoples in general and their rights play a very important role as well, because they constitute the foundation for the national legislation and hence influence the Saami policy of each of these states. The data collection consists of all these documents and also other ...