I congratulate us on the International Sámi Unity Day.
Only the Sámi themselves determine the future.
Will we preserve what our ancestors left us?
Will we be able to pass our heritage on to future generations?
Will we protect our language, culture, traditions, the tundra, the forests, the reindeer?
We can do all this if we stand united.
Today our tundra is being taken from us. They try to deprive us of freedom, strip us of the right to self-government, trample our rights, persecute activists…
But we are a proud people. For thousands of years we have lived on our own land. We have seen many rulers who tried to subjugate us. We have always had our own worldview, rooted in the traditions of the Sámi people. And despite everything, we have managed to preserve the Sámi people on our land — Sápmi.
Today, the Kola Sámi are being deprived of what matters most: their connection with Sámi abroad. Russian media have published news about a possible “unification” of Sámi organizations.
Quotes:
“One of the reasons cited for the possible unification of the two public organizations is the unilateral refusal of the Scandinavian countries and Finland to cooperate with Russia within the Sámi Council.”
“The unification of the two organizations will strengthen the Sámi community of Russia and once again demonstrate that, despite everything happening in the world, the Kola Sámi are united, strong, friendly, and ready to develop together, leaving possible disagreements behind.”
“He also considers it symbolic that the unification could take place in the year declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin as the Year of the Unity of the Peoples of Russia.”
This is not unification by the will of the Sámi people. This is the deprivation of our right to self-determination, our right to a voice, to freedom.
Russian authorities once tried to divide the Sámi in the 20th century. The Skolt Sámi suffered especially. But we managed to unite and break down borders. For 30 years we were one people across four countries. Then Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine. The Sámi decided to temporarily suspend official contacts — and this decision was supported by representatives of Sámi in Russia. Yet we continue to stay connected through personal ties.
Can we remain united, as our ancestors once were? We can.
Happy National Day, February 6!
ČSV!
Andrey Danilov
Sámi activist, forced to leave the Russian side of Sápmi, yet continuing to defend the rights and freedoms of the Kola Sámi.