Hälsningar från Åland! This weekend, our Project Planner Eleonora participated in the Nordic Green Youth Summer Summit in Mariehamn, together with sixty participants from Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

The theme of this year’s summit was green transition and Sámi rights, with the main goal being to draft a joint statement to be released later this year. Two Sámi experts contributed to the program: Niila-Juhán Valkeapää, Vice President of the Youth Council of the Sámi Parliament of Finland, and MÁHTUT Project’s Eleonora Alariesto.

On the first day, Eleonora delivered the opening remarks and introduced the session on green transition and Sámi rights. Niila-Juhán gave an insightful presentation on colonialism in Sápmi, highlighting current cases concerning Sámi rights — such as the renewal of the Sámi Parliament Act in Finland and the Fosen windmill park court case in Norway.

Following this, Eleonora reflected on the historical case of the artificial lake of Lokka and the drowning of Sompio, linking it to the modern threats of green extractivism on Sámi cultural heritage, circular ways of life, livelihoods, sacred sites, and people’s sense of safety and home. Eleonora also presented the MÁHTUT project and its contribution to safeguarding Sámi circular ways of life.

A panel discussion followed the presentations, featuring Aili Keskitalo, Political Advisor for Amnesty International Norway, Jenni Pitko, Green Member of Parliament (Finland), Hildegunn Marie Tønnessen Seip, politician from the Norwegian Green Party Niila-Juhán Valkeapää and Eleonora Alariesto.

During the discussion, participants posed questions developed in small groups. The topics covered included the green transition and modern colonialism, Sámi land rights, land restoration, mining, tourism in sacred sites, the psychological impacts of colonialism, relevant legislation, and racism.

On the second day, participants began drafting the joint statement in groups. Six group presentations were prepared and later revised in a plenary session. Throughout the group work, Eleonora mentored participants, offering insights and answering questions. Later in the day, the participants democratically voted on the suggestions put forward by the working groups.

On the final day, the first draft of the joint statement was completed.

Olu giitu – thank you to the Young Greens for a wonderful, insightful, and inspirational weekend in Åland!

Warm regards,
Eleonora Alariesto
Project Planner