It was in November that SSR made a request for a meeting with Culture and Sami Minister Parisa Liljestrand (M).
In the inquiry, they raised a concern about what is actually happening in the Sámi political area. They stated that the government’s policy “destroys the already very fragile structures for Sami language work”. They demanded an answer to why the government has swerved in Sami and minority policy.
“Doesn’t cheer up”
Last week they then met the minister. And the minister noted, as she said before, that the government has not changed its Sami policy at all.
– There may not be a turnaround in politics. But it is a reduction of financial resources and it has had the consequence that it has been negative for Sami political work, says Matti Blind Berg after the meeting.
He continues:
– The signals you send from the government office, you can’t say that it cheers up or strengthens Sami political work.
“Must have dialogue”
When he talks about signals from the government, he refers, among other things, to the closure of the Renmarkskommittee and the turmoil within the Truth Commission. At the same time that Sámi Giellagáldu looked for a long time as having to be shut down last fall.
– It was a fruitful meeting and a good exchange of ideas, so what we get out of it remains to be seen, says Matti Blind Berg.
What can a meeting like this lead to?
– I’m not going to speculate on that. If you’re going to bring about changes, you have to have dialogue, so that’s what I have to take with me.