‘It was an unwritten practice’ – Finland’s Sámi report puts schools and trauma in focus

In her speech at the handover of Finland’s Sámi Truth and Reconciliation Commission final report, Chair Dr Hannele Pokka said the commission heard accounts suggesting assimilation in schools and dormitories was not always driven by formal law, but still became “an unwritten practice that prevailed” in past decades.

Dr Pokka said children in boarding schools were separated from families for long periods, and that the commission heard accounts of children being punished for using Sámi language – impacts she said are still felt through language endangerment, cultural loss and intergenerational trauma. She also argued support needs do not end with the report, calling for a permanent national psychosocial support unit after a support service operated alongside the commission.

The Finnish Government says the commission consulted almost 400 Sámi people and commissioned 25 expert studies, and that the final report contains recommendations and proposals for measures. The government also notes the report is structured in two parts, with Part II analysing consultation material across themes including language, cultural heritage, traditional livelihoods and wellbeing.

Internationally, Justice Info reported Finland’s commission is one of three Nordic truth commission processes on state–Sámi relations, with Norway reporting in 2023 and Sweden expected to report by October 2026.

“Transparency doesn’t mean it’s an attack” – framing accountability as a trust-building tool rather than a threat.