Pre-conference: Impact of climate change on the Sámi health and wellbeing: ethical and community-driven approaches (SAMI)

Tuesday 11 November, 09:00 – 17:00 Helsinki time
(with network lunch at 12:30)


Organised by

Sámi Parliament in Finland, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), EUPHA Migrant and ethnic minority health section

Background

The Sámi are the only officially recognized indigenous people in the EU, constituting of approximately 100,000 persons living mainly in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Russia. The impact of climate change is profound for the Sámi people, impacting daily lives and livelihood, health and wellbeing. The aim of the pre-conference is to bring together researchers, practitioners and policy experts to comprehensively discuss the impact of climate change on the health, wellbeing, and daily lives of the Sámi people and to develop capacity among participants in ethical aspects and good practices of working with indigenous people. 

The programme consists of presentations, moderated panel discussions and active engagement of the audience, providing diverse perspectives on the impact of climate change on the health, wellbeing, and daily lives of the Sámi people. In addition to evidence-based knowledge, the crucial importance of indigenous knowledge and application of community-driven and ethically sustainable approaches in shaping practice and policy is emphasized. Current research, practice and policy are critically reflected from the decolonial perspective. The conference themes are also reflected from broader indigenous and minority ethnic groups perspective, encouraging discussions on how indigenous knowledge and research practices with indigenous people can inform the academic community working with migrants and minority ethnic groups and vice versa.

Programme

Session 1: Sámi Health and Well-being in the Era of Climate Change
9:00  - 9:15 Opening  
Orientation to the day  
Welcome remarks, brief overview of the day's program Sámi Parliament of Finland and Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare
9:15 - 9:25 Sámi Parliament II Vice President, Acting President Tuomas Aslak Juuso, Sámi Parliament
9:25 - 9:35 Director General of THL Prof. Mika Salminen, Director general, THL
9:35 - 10:00 What do we talk about when we talk about the impacts of climate change on the Sámi people? TBA
10:00 - 10:25 What do we talk about when we talk about Sámi well-being? TBA
10:25 - 10:30 Short Q&A with Audience  
10:30 - 11:00 Coffee/Tea Break  
11:00 - 11:20 How does climate change affect everyday life and well-being among the Sámi? Aslak Paltto, Reindeer herder, journalist
11:20 - 11:40 Sámi Mental Health and Climate change: Experiences from the Uvjj Sámi Psychosocial Support Unit Project Manager Heidi Eriksen, Uvjj – Sámi Psychosocial Support Unit
11:40 - 12:05 Decolonisation in Research Saami Council / Arctic and Environmental Unit
12:05 - 12:15 Decolonising indigenous research in THL TBA
12:15 - 12:30 Q&A  
12:30 - 13:30 Lunch  
Session 2: Sámi health and welfare/ studies and ethical guidelines
13:30 - 13:40 Video or performance  
13:40 - 15:00 Panel: Perspectives on Sámi well-being and climate change

Moderators:

Development Manager Saida Mäki-Penttilä, Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare

TBA, Sámi Parliament of Finland

Panelists:

Politician, Dr Leena Niittyvuopio-Jämsä, president of Social Affairs and Health Committee at the Sámi Parliament, Finland

II Vice President, Acting President Tuomas Aslak Juuso, Sámi Parliament 

TBA
15:00 - 15:30 Coffee/Tea Break  
15:30 16:30 Indigenous Studies  
Indigenous studies TBA
Adaptation of ethical research guidelines for research with Sámi people for research with Roma population Dr. Marko Stenroos, senior researcher, Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare
Broader indigenous people perspective TBA
Q&A  
16:30 - 16:50

Takings from the day and the way forward

Are there common points with Migrants and Ethnic Minority Research 

EUPHA Migrant and ethnic minority health section
16:50 - 17:00 Closing remarks II Vice President, Acting President Tuomas Aslak Juuso, Sámi Parliament

Registration

The registration fee is EUR 25. Networking lunch and refreshments are included.