It is a historic week at the Sami Parliament on the Norwegian side when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report on how the Sami have been treated in Norway throughout history is debated.
But there are not many signs of reconciliation, instead it is more conflict-filled than in a long time. The second largest party, the Nordkalottfolket already last Tuesday chose to leave the plenary hall to follow the discussion in a nearby meeting room.
The background to the decision is the investigation that the plenum’s leadership wanted to initiate into the Sami Parliament’s voter register and which the Nordkalott people asked the district court to stop.
But the case was ruled in favor of the Sami Parliament and The Nordkalott people now tried to raise a motion of no confidence against the entire plenum’s management, which, however, was not heard.
– When we cannot push through a no-confidence vote, we have no choice but to present our own proposals, says Toril Bakken Kåven from Nordkalottfolket to NRK Sápmi.
Refuse to sit in on the debates
After leaving the room, the party has refused to sit during the debates and only enters to submit its own proposals or to vote.
This has received great criticism from several quarters.
– This is their way of conducting politics, of creating chaos and spreading false information. I hope people see that this is not democracy, says Beaska Niillas from the Position Party (NSR).
Hitting back at criticism
The plenary management has considered whether there is inappropriate behavior in terms of the Sami Parliament’s rules of procedure.
– I have considered whether it is inappropriate behavior on the part of the representatives not to respond to retorts they receive and not to participate in the debate in plenary. But I have come to the conclusion that it is up to each person if they want to respond to replies, says chairman Tor Gunnar Nystad.
The northern calotte is now also striking back against the criticism.
– I have been here regularly since 2005 and it has never been a problem. I have mostly sat in my office and followed the debate on the stream as we have always done, says Toril Bakken Kåven.