Per-Olof Nutti re-elected as the President of the Saami Council

Photo: Sámiráđđi / Piera Heaika Muotka

At the Saami Council meeting in Ohcejohka/Utsjok, Per-Olof Nutti was unanimously elected to continue as President of the Saami Council.

The constitution of the new Saami Council took place in connection with the 23rd Saami Conference. The re-elected President looks forward to leading the Saami Council in the coming years. The work of implementing the decisions of the Saami Conference now begins.

- I am grateful for the trust I have been given to continue as President. One of our most important tasks going forward is to implement the decisions and objectives of the 23rd Saami Conference. We also have a completely new strategy, in which the priority areas for the period 2026-2030 have been set. An important part of our work will be to ensure that the Saami Council reaches its strategic goals. I look forward to continuing the cooperation with our member organizations to promote the rights of the Sámi people and further develop the Saami Council, says Nutti.

The 23rd Saami Conference has elected the following members to the Saami Council for the period 2026-2030:

- I am also very proud that we have managed to organize such a fine event in Ohcejohka. I would like to thank the entire Ohcejohka community for welcoming us so warmly. At the same time, I would also like to thank the Saami Council staff, the participants and our partners, says Per-Olof Nutti.

In addition to the President, Ellen-Sara Sparrok and Ida Márjá Helander were elected as Vice Presidents of the Saami Council for the new term.

* The 23rd Saami Conference notes that the basis for the pause in cooperation with the member organizations on the Russian side remains unchanged, and that the pause will therefore be maintained until the Saami Council decides otherwise. As a result of the serious geopolitical situation in the region, two seats and two deputy seats in the Saami Council will remain vacant for the time being.

The 23rd Saami Conference requests that the Saami Council continuously assess whether the situation allows for cooperation to be resumed, and authorizes the Saami Council to appoint two members and two deputy members based on proposals from the member organizations on the Russian side when the conditions for this are in place.