Petroleum resources in the Arctic and the relationship to the states in the Arctic
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7 The Arctic Council and indigenous peoples in the Arctic
The Arctic Council is the only body that brings together representatives of all the indigenous peoples in the Arctic. Through the foundational document of the Arctic
Council, the Ottawa Declaration, the member states conirm their obligations to indigenous peoples in the Arctic in regard to their living conditions, and that the
Arctic indigenous peoples and their communities represent a unique contribution in this area. The member states recognise the importance of the Arctic indigenous
peoples’ traditional knowledge in understanding the circumpolar Arctic. The member states also pointed out that indigenous peoples of the Arctic and their communities
should be involved in eforts to foster co-operation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic states with regard to sustainable development and protection of the
Arctic environment. Every biennial ministerial declaration in the period 1998–2013 has reiterated how important it is to protect the interests of indigenous peoples in the
Arctic and the importance of their participation in the work of the Arctic Council.
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In every ministerial declaration since 1998, the Arctic Council has reiterated how important it is to protect the interests of indigenous peoples, and the importance of their participation in the work of the Arctic
Council. Six indigenous peoples’ organisations are Permanent Participants of the Arctic Council. In addition, the Sami Parliament President participates in the Norwegian delegation at Arctic Council
Ministerial Meetings, here from Kiruna in 2013.
Photo: Jonas KarlsbakkBarentsObserver
Through their six special interest groups, Arctic indigenous peoples are also the only parties beyond the eight member states with the status of Permanent Participants in
the Arctic Council. In Norway’s case, the Saami Council, and not the Sami Parlia- ment, represents the Norwegian Sami people in the Arctic Council. The Saami
Council is a non-governmental organisation NGO representing Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and Russian Sami organisations. The Saami Council notes that the Arctic
Council is unique internationally as there is no other international body where
285 See various statements reserved for the indigenous groups in the Arctic ministerial declarations in the period 1998–2013.
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indigenous peoples have a guaranteed place in the Council’s highest assembly – the Ministerial Meetings.
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Fact box 10 The Saami Council
The Saami Council is a cultural policy and political organisation representing the Sami organisations in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia. The Council’s objective is to protect the interests of the Sami as a
people, strengthen Sami solidarity across borders and work for the continued recognition of the Sami as a people.
The Sami people’s cultural, political, economic and social rights should be protected in part by each country’s laws and partly in the agreements between the states concerned and Sami representative
bodies. The Saami Council was previously referred to as the Nordic Saami Council. The Nordic Saami Council
was founded in 1956, but the irst international Sami conference was held in 1953 in Jokkmokk, Sweden. A committee to establish a common Saami Council was appointed at this conference.
Source: UN report from the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, 2011
It is also a political desire to involve the Sami Parliament as much as possible in the Arctic Council, and according to the Ministry of Foreign Afairs, this is one of the
reasons why the Norwegian Sami Parliament President attends the Norwegian dele- gation to the Arctic Council’s Ministerial Meetings. In addition, the Minister of
Foreign Afairs allots part of his assigned speaking time at the Ministerial Meeting to the Sami Parliament President.
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Representatives from the Sami Parliament attend oicial meetings SAO meetings as part of the Norwegian delegation, but do not directly participate in the Arctic
Council’s working groups. In interviews, representatives of the Sami Parliament state that the Sami Parliament wants to be better integrated in the Arctic Council’s work.
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Fact box 11 The Sami Parliament Sámediggi
The Sami Parliament was established on the basis of the Act concerning the Sami Parliament and other Sami legal matters Sami Act. The Sami Parliament is a politically elected body representing the Sami,
which performs administrative tasks delegated by law or by agreements with Norwegian authorities. The purpose of the body is to strengthen the Sami’s political position and promote Sami interests in
Norway, contribute to equitable and fair treatment of the Sami people and work to safeguard and develop their language, culture and community.
The Sami Parliament has decision-making authority in matters where the central government has transferred such authority, such as Sami cultural heritage, education, language, industry and culture.
Source: www.sametinget.no
The Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Afairs is responsible for ensuring that Sami interests are included in the formulation of policy
in all relevant areas, and coordinates contact with the Sami Parliament. The Ministry is also responsible for coordinating Sami issues, but the main responsibility for
speciic issues often lies with the respective specialist ministries.
286 Email with attachments dated 24 June 2013 from the Saami Council. 287 Interview with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 9 February 2012.
288 Interview with Sami Parliament representatives on 31 May 2012.