Scandinavia has its own dark history of assimilating Indigenous people, and churches played a role – but are apologizing

Finnish Samis urge stronger voice in EU decision-making

HELSINKI, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of the Finnish Sami community called for stronger Indigenous participation in European Union (EU) policymaking at the EU Arctic Forum held Friday in Kittila, northern Finland. Tuomas Aslak Juuso, vice president of the Sami Parliament in Finland, emphasized that EU policies significantly influence the daily lives of the Samis - from climate adaptation to cross-border trade - yet the Sami people curren…

Scandinavia has its own dark history of assimilating Indigenous people, and churches played a role – but are apologizing

A church in Kiruna, Sweden, designed by architect Gustaf Wickman to resemble a Sami hut. Apolline Guillerot-Malick/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesIn May 2025, Tapio Luoma, archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, delivered an apology to the Sámi, the only recognized Indigenous people in the European Union. Speaking on behalf of the church to which more than 6 in 10 of the Finnish populace belong, including most Sámi, Lu…