Do persons with a Sámi background and disability face other challenges than other persons with disability? Do the Sámi culture offer other opportunities for persons with disabilities? What conditions do the local, regional and national society have to offer in order allow Sámi persons with disability to live to their full potential?

You’ll also here persons talk from their own experience growing up in a Sámi context with disability.

Programme

09:30 Welcome by University of Lapland

09:35 A Sami welcome by Sámi parliament, Tuomas Aslak Juuso, Second vice chair of the Sámi Parliament in Finland

09:40 United Nations’ indigenous-specific mechanisms’ work from a disability perspective, Alexey Tsykarev, Expert Member in United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

10:10 My challenges and opportunities – Sami with disability, Piera Jovnna Somby from Norwegian Sápmi and Ara Aikio from Finnish Sápmi

10:40 Coffee break

11:00 Rights for persons with a Sami origin and rights for persons with disability in Finland, Viveca Arrhenius, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in Finland

11:30 Results from interviews with Sámi persons with disabilities in Sweden, Margaretha Uttjek, researcher at University of Umeå

12:00 Lunch with Sámi music

13:30 Results from a Sámi/Norwegian study, Line Melbøe

13:50 A Finnish/Sami study about experience of persons with disabilities, Lydia Heikkilä and Liisa Hokkanen

14:10 SamiSoster’s work, Mrs Ristenrauna Magga

14:30 The perspective from the disability organizations, Kalle Könkkölä /Ulrika Krook

14:50 Coffee break

15:10 From a relative’s point of view, Marjo-Riitta Mattus, PhD student

15:30 Reflections from the day and the way forward.

15:55 Closing remarks

Moderator of the seminar is Anna Dahlberg, Project leader at the Nordic Centre for Welfare and Social Issues  

The lectures will mainly be in English, but with interpretation to Finnish (and English).