From Sápmi to Palestine: A Struggle for Land, Liberation, and Justice

Photo: The Sámi Parliament

We celebrate the historic victory of the Sámi people in Finland with deep solidarity and joy. The long-overdue reform of the Sámi Parliament Act is a crucial step toward restoring Indigenous self-determination and sovereignty. Though delayed, its arrival is vital – and a reminder that justice, even when late, must still be claimed.

This victory shows that legal systems can be pressured to recognize Indigenous rights when backed by sustained grassroots activism and international solidarity. The Sámi people have demonstrated that persistent resistance can shift state structures. Palestinians, too, are using international law – through the International Criminal Court as well as the International Court of Justice and other UN mechanisms – to demand recognition and redress for genocide, apartheid, and occupation. Both peoples are asserting their right to exist, govern, and thrive on their ancestral lands, despite the systems that have long denied them those rights.

We at Sumud, a Palestinian-led organisation, recognize this moment as part of a broader, global movement for Indigenous liberation. From Standing Rock to Sámi lands to Gaza, we resist colonialism in all its forms. Our struggles are interconnected – rooted in the same systems of dispossession, erasure, and violence.

This victory is powerful – but it is not enough. Justice requires more than recognition; it demands reclamation, decolonization, and protection of Indigenous lands and rights. We who celebrate with the Sámi people today must remain vigilant – committed to defending Sámi lands from extractivism, militarization, and settler expansion. Sámi sovereignty must extend beyond the Parliament Act.

The next step for Finland is to ratify the ILO 169 Convention. It is a concrete step toward decolonisation and justice for the Sámi people. Despite decades of rhetorical support, Finland has yet to ratify this binding international treaty, which affirms Indigenous peoples’ rights to self-determination, land, and resources, and mandates free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC). Ratification would mark a critical break from colonial structures that have historically denied the Sámi meaningful participation in decisions affecting their territories and culture.

The Sámi victory strengthens our collective resolve to fight for a world where Indigenous rights are respected, sovereignty is honored, and no people are subjected to apartheid, occupation, or genocide. The Palestinian struggle for liberation, justice, and return is part of this global demand for all indigenous peoples.

Sumud stands with the Sámi people and all Indigenous communities rising for their rights. Together, we are building a liberated future grounded in dignity, justice, and freedom for all.