The 20th Saami Conference was arranged in Murmansk, Russia in May 2nd-4th, 2013. The theme of the conference - Sápmi 2053 – Saami Culture and increasing industrial development - raised very central issues of the Saami society. The conference gave the Saami in four different countries a unique possibility to meet and discuss issues common for the Saami as a people. The conference adopted the Kuellnegk Neark declaration and seven resolutions proposed by the delegations from the member organizations. The declaration and resolutions form the base of the policy of the Saami Council for the next four years. This is the mandate given to the Saami Council’s activities on the international arena: in the human rights mechanisms of the UN, in the Arctic Council and in the cultural work of the Saami Council. The Saami Conference is also an arena for the national Saami organizations to meet for discussions, exchange of experience and to develop policy. The impressions and results is brought back to the organizations and inspires their daily activity.

The main theme of the conference, Sápmi 2053 – Saami Culture and increasing industrial development, was discussed during a one-day seminar. Invited speakers presented issues regarding how the Saami can maintain their identity and culture with a steadily increasing focus on the northern region, industrial development and extraction of non-renewable resources on traditional Saami areas. Challenges in regards to the definition of who is a Saami person and who has the right to vote and who is eligible for the Saami Parliament elections where parliaments are established, was also discussed.

The Saami parliament has two member organizations on the Russian side. Murmansk and the regional Saami association (OOSMO) were hosts for the conference and organized the cultural programme during the conference. Members of the Saami youth organization Sam Nurasj assisted with the practical arrangements of the conference itself.

Decisions of the Saami Conference