Spending a week in Inari, Finland, the cultural heart of the Sámi people, was a powerful journey of learning, reflection, and connection. The programme brought us closer to the Sámi experience, not only through history and culture but also through the present-day struggle for rights, recognition, and reconciliation.
One of the most striking moments was hearing from Helga West, who shared how land is central to the Sámi identity. She reminded us that no reconciliation can happen without land and resources. When people lose their land, they lose their roots, their culture, and ultimately the reason to fight. This message echoed throughout the week: land is not only territory, it is life.
Professor Veli-Pekka Lehtola guided us through the ongoing reconciliation process. He emphasized that the Sámi people’s message to the world is: “We are still here.” This reminder of survival and endurance stood alongside visits to places like the Siida Sámi Museum and the Wilderness Church, where I was struck by how Sámi people do not see themselves as victims, but as a community that continues to resist, create, and flourish.
The highlight of the week was the Ijahis Idja Festival – the only music festival in Finland dedicated to Sámi artists. The atmosphere was electric: traditional joik music blending with modern sounds, voices carrying stories of resilience and pride. Artists like Elle-Máijá (Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen) inspired us not only with music but also with activism. She spoke passionately about how Sámi youth must stay engaged, but also how their struggle cannot be seen in isolation. Issues like climate change, Indigenous rights worldwide, and Palestine are interconnected – part of the same fight for justice, dignity, and survival. Her words reminded us that it is not enough to protect only Sámi rights – we must all stand together, speak out against injustice, and allow ourselves to feel anger when facing oppression.
From all these experiences, one lesson became clear: the struggle for land, rights, and recognition is not a closed chapter, but an ongoing process. Accountability must come from those who suppress, and active participation is needed from everyone who seeks peace.
This journey also touched me personally. As someone from Kosovo, I saw echoes of our own history in the Sámi struggle. The injustices faced by Indigenous peoples are not isolated – they connect to struggles around the world, where victims are often blamed and peace remains fragile. The Sámi people’s message, “We are still here,” is one that speaks to many communities, including mine.
Leaving Inari, I carry with me not only memories of beautiful landscapes and moving music, but also a deeper understanding that reconciliation requires courage, accountability, and the constant fight for justice.
