The Norwegian Kven Association (Norske kveners forbund – Ruijan kvääniliitto) has announced a renewed effort to enhance cooperation with the Sami Parliament (Sametinget), following a joint meeting focused on the future of relations between the Kven and Sami communities. The announcement was made in an official press release from the association.
Who are the Sami and the Kven?
The Sami are the Indigenous people of Sápmi, a region that spans parts of northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. They have distinct languages, cultures, and traditional livelihoods, including reindeer herding, fishing, and handicrafts. In Norway, the Sami are recognized as an Indigenous people with constitutionally protected rights.
The Kven are a national minority in Norway, descended from Finnish-speaking migrants who settled in the north of the country from the 18th century onwards. Today, the Kven maintain a distinct language (Kven/Finnish), heritage, and identity, though their cultural visibility has long been limited by assimilation policies.
Repairing relations after the assimilation era
The new initiative will include regular annual meetings between the Sami Parliament and the Kven Association, with the goal of strengthening and repairing historical relations damaged during Norway’s long-standing Norwegianization policy (fornorskingspolitikk). This policy, in place for much of the 19th and 20th centuries, aimed to assimilate minority groups such as the Kven and Sami into Norwegian majority culture, often at the expense of their language and identity.
Runar Myrnes Balto of the Sami Parliament noted that the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Sannhets- og forsoningskommisjonen), which addressed the effects of these policies, now offers “valuable opportunities for follow-up”.
Common meeting places and cultural dialogue
Kristin Mellem, leader of the Kven Association, expressed optimism about the joint efforts: “We look forward to developing new, shared meeting places,” she said.
The cooperation is expected to include joint cultural platforms, intercultural dialogue, and policy coordination aimed at improving the status and visibility of both the Kven and Sami peoples in Norway. While historically marginalized, both groups are today recognised as national minorities with specific cultural and linguistic rights.
The move reflects a broader shift in Norway towards inclusive policymaking and restorative justice for indigenous and minority populations. It is also seen as a response to long-standing demands for equal treatment and institutional representation.
