Sami Parliament of Russia
The Kola Sámi Assembly (Куелнегк Соамет Соббар or Kuelnegk Soamet Sobbar) is an elected assembly established in 2010 by the Sámi people of the Kola peninsula in Russia, on the model of Sámi parliaments in Nordic countries. It is not recognised by the Russian government.
Establishment
On December 14, 2008 the 1st Congress of the Russian Sámi took place.[1] The Conference decided to demand the formation of a Russian Sámi Parliament, to be elected by the local Sámi. A suggestion to have the Russian Federation pick representatives to the Parliament was voted down with a clear majority. The Congress also chose a Council of Representatives that were to work for the establishment of a Parliament, and otherwise represent the Russian Sámi.
At the 2nd Congress of the Russian Sámi in Murmansk on December 12, 2010, the new Kuelnegk Soamet Sobbar (Kola Sámi Assembly) was elected. It was also decided that henceforward the Congress would be held every four years.[1] The aims of the Assembly are to represent the Sámi people and to work towards a recognised Russian Sámi Parliament.[2] According to one commentator, although "in the ... Assembly, the Kola Sámi have achieved their most unifying and representative structure to date", the extent to which the Murmansk regional authorities are prepared to work with this body remains unclear.[2]
Links with Sámi parliaments in other countries
Full participation for the Kola Sámi Assembly in the Sámi Parliamentary Council depends upon Sámi Parliaments in the other Nordic countries being prepared to accept it as a ‘Russian Sámi Parliament'.[2]
Norway
The Sámi Parliament of Norway was opened in 1989. Representatives of Sámi organizations in Russia have visited the Norwegian Sámi Parliament in Karasjok to learn more about the Norwegian Sámi Parliament.[3][4][5][6]
Sweden
The Sámi Parliament of Sweden is a representative body under the authority of the Swedish parliament. The Sámi Parliament of Sweden must comply with the decisions of the Swedish parliament,[7] which sometimes goes against the elected Sámi Parliament Members' party programs. The Sámi Parliament has no real power and the task is instead to enforce the decision of the Swedish parliament and government. In contrast to the Sámi Parliament of Sweden, the Kuelnegk Soamet Sobbar is initiated by the Russian Sámi, not by a government.
See also
- Sámi politics
- Lovozero (rural locality) (the cultural centre of the Russian Sámi)
References
- 1 2 Artieva, Alexandra (20 November 2014). "Sami Parliament of Kola Peninsula: fight for right to self-determination". Barents Observer. Norwegian Barents Secretariat.
- 1 2 3 Mikkel Berg-Nordlie, Striving to Unite. The Russian Sámi and the Nordic Sámi Parliament model, Arctic Review on Law and Politics, vol. 2, 1/2011 p. 52–76. ISSN 1891-6252
- ↑ http://www.nrk.no/nett-tv/klipp/739247/ Oddasat - nyheter på samisk 23.05.2011
- ↑ http://www.barentsobserver.com/fighting-for-sami-parliament-in-russia.4530696-16149.html Fighting for Sami parliament in Russia
- ↑ http://www.barentsindigenous.org/saami-assembly-in-murmansk-oblast.4860165-111496.html Saami Assembly in Murmansk Oblast
- ↑ http://russia-media.ru/schlagzeilen/morenews.php?iditem=5260 http://russia-media.ru/schlagzeilen/morenews.php?iditem=5260
- ↑ "Sametinget har ingen egentlig makt". Sveriges Radio. 8 May 2005. Retrieved 1 February 2012.