The following blog post was written by Sáttanuorat following their discussion with Commissioner Hannele Pokka in Rovaniemi on 12.9.2025. Its content is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the views of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This is the original text, that has been later translated to the three Sámi languages spoken in Finland as well as Finnish.
The Sámi Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s work in Finland is coming to an end, but the hardest work is yet to be done. Meeting Commissioner Hannele Pokka gave Sáttanuorat insight into the reconciliation process, as well as hope for our future. Sáttanuorat is the Saami Council’s cross-border youth project, bringing together Sámi youth from across Sápmi to strengthen their voices in political, cultural, and environmental issues.
Reflecting on this meeting, we are reminded of our friends and family who continue the struggle for Sámi self-determination. These ongoing struggles show why reconciliation cannot remain only as words but must respond to the lived realities of our people. In Riehpovuotna, communities are defending the future of reindeer herding and the fishing fjord from the dumping of toxic mining byproducts and waste. In Gállok, Sámi people resist the exploitation of their lands by mining companies. Across Sápmi, communities face similar pressures from extractive industries, often backed by national governments and the European Union (EU). For Sámi youth, this means living with an impossible choice: to defend our lands and waters, or to pursue our studies – when our future depends on both. These struggles are not separate from reconciliation; they are the very challenges that meaningful reconciliation must confront.
As young Sámi, we carry the history of our ancestors with us. We carry the stories of our elders shared with the Commission, and we recognize that their voices shape both our past and our present. But reconciliation cannot only look backward. It must also create space for the voices of young Sámi today, because we are living the consequences of colonial policies right now. Reconciliation happens with us and for us, and it must offer Sámi youth an active role in shaping its outcomes. Our stories need to be told, heard, and listened to. Our lived experiences will determine the success of reconciliation. Most important are the concrete actions and commitments toward Sámi self-determination. The Commission’s work is only one step along this path, and we hope policymakers in Finland are prepared to act on its proposals.
As Sámi youth from Finland, Sweden, and Norway, we see reconciliation as something that cannot be achieved in one part of our homelands alone. The struggles we face do not stop at national borders. Reconciliation must embrace all of Sápmi. One day, we hope to be reunited with our sisters and brothers on the Russian side as well—and for this to happen, the Sámi people must remain undivided.
We thank Commissioner Pokka for meeting with us, and we wish her and the rest of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Finland all the best in their important work. As we reflect on reconciliation and its meaning for Sámi youth, we present our vision for a more just future:
In the future, we want to see Sámi culture thrive, and Sámi communities enjoy true self-determination. We want our languages to be heard and spoken. We do not wish for the next Sámi generations to fight for their existence. Instead, we look towards a future where the land, and not our wounds, will be there for us to pass on to our children.
Sáttanuorat
Juhan-Nikolaus Wuolab Wollberg
Maret Michelsen
Agnes Svakko
Niila-Juhan Valkeapää
Elle Nystad
Lemet Haetta
*Sáttanuorat is part of the EU-funded Youth Together for Arctic Futures project, an initiative under the Saami Council that brings together Sámi youth from across Sápmi to strengthen their voices in political, cultural, and environmental decision-making. The project focuses on youth participation, leadership development, and cross-border collaboration to address the challenges facing Sámi communities and the Arctic region.