Sámi Parliament of Finland

The Sámi people are an are an indigenous people living in the territories of four countries: Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia. The Sámi have their own language, culture, way of life and identity.

There are currently about 11,000 Sámi living in Finland. 30% of the Finland's Sámi population lives in the Sámi homeland in Northern Lapland. There are an estimated 50,000–65,000 Sámi people living in Norway, 20,000 in Sweden and 2,000 in Russia.

The Constitution of Finland guarantees the Sámi, as an indigenous people, linguistic and cultural self-government in the Sámi homeland as provided by an Act of Parliament. Provisions on the implementation of this self-government are laid down in more detail in the Act on the Sámi Parliament.

The Sámi homeland comprises the areas of the municipalities of Enontekiö, Inari and Utsjoki, as well as the area of the reindeer owners’ association of Lapland in Sodankylä.

The Sámi people elect the Sámi Parliament from among themselves to handle matters concerning the Sámi languages and culture that fall under self-government. The Sámi Parliament consists of 21 members and 4 deputy members elected for four calendar years at a time.  

A person identifying themselves as Sámi has the right to be entered in the electoral roll of the Sámi Parliament provided that the person or at least one of their parents, grandparents or great-grandparents learned Sámi as their first language. A person  may also be entered in the electoral roll if at least one of the person's parents is or has been registered as an elector for the election to the Sámi Parliament held on 1 January 2027 or thereafter.

The Sámi Parliament represents the Sámi people in matters pertaining to its tasks in national and international contexts. The task of the Sámi Parliament is to decide on matters concerning the Sámi people’s own language, culture and status as an Indigenous People and to carry out related tasks. In other matters, the Sámi Parliament promotes the realisation of Sámi self-determination. The Sámi Parliament participates in preparing and deciding matters in accordance with the obligation of public authorities to cooperate and negotiate. For example, the Sámi Parliament may submit initiatives and proposals to the authorities, as well as issue statements. 

The Sámi Parliament falls within the government branch of the Ministry of Justice. However, as a self-governing body, the Sámi Parliament is not a central government authority nor a part of central government administration. It is an independent legal person governed by public law with its own administrative bodies, accounting and auditors.