The Sámi Parliament in Norway: a ‘breaking in’ perspective

The Sámediggi (Sámi Parliament) in Norway, elected by and among the indigenous Sámi people, was established in 1989. Since the Sámi minority is dispersed, a non-territorial autonomy model was chosen. Having neither an exclusive Sámi territory nor law-making or fiscal powers, the Sámediggi depends on cooperation with Norwegian institutions. Rather than ‘breaking out’ from the state, the Sámediggi’s strategy is ‘breaking in’: influencing national, regional and local government from the inside by means of consultations and formal agreements, extending Indigenous perspectives and participation into non-Indigenous affairs. Sámi self-determination can thus be described as relational, resulting in a process marked by both setbacks and advances.