SAPMI: Support to awareness raising about the Saami 2019

ended

The EU Arctic policy framework “An integrated European Union policy for the Arctic” was adopted on 27 April 2016. The 2016 Arctic Communication recognizes the importance of dialogue with Arctic indigenous peoples and notes that the EU will continue to engage with Arctic indigenous peoples to ensure that their views and rights are respected and promoted in the ongoing development of EU policies affecting the Arctic. This project will support the implementation of the 2016 Arctic Communication. The objective of this project is to find ways and means on how to raise awareness about the Sámi people within the EU institutions. The relevance of the Arctic region has grown as a result of climate change, the increasing level of economic activity and a more multilevel governance system (focus on Arctic Council as a platform for dialogue and cooperation). The project activities include capacity building internally at the Saami Council (project worker). Capacity on EU within the Sámi community is scare resource and thus will this activity be critical for the project. The Saami Council has good experience with participation on conferences such as the EU Arctic Forum, Arctic Future and other Arctic events in building networks. Bilateral meetings with the EU institutions have also been fruitful in order to bridge knowledge gaps and establish EU-Sámi contact point. The project will continue this work. Further will more traditional outreach materials, such as fact-sheets on specific topics be produced and social media will be systematically utilized as a tool for dissemination. The EU has also strengthened its focus on the Arctic. In such a context it is important and crucial that the European indigenous peoples, including the Sámi people, are part of the ongoing processes within the EU. The project therefore aims at developing a roadmap on a EU Sámi Week where the goal is to establish a platform for dialogue and cooperation between the Sámi people and EU decision-makers.