The Sámi Parliament in Finland, the Sámi Youth in Finland Organization, and the Suohpanterror Sámi Artivist Collective participated in the 17th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, which took place from April 16 to 27, 2018. The University of Lapland’s Faculty of Art and Design is leading the PARTY project, funded by the Horizon 2020 MCSA RISE initiative. This project aims to develop service design methods to facilitate service development and encourage dialogue between indigenous San youth and local government. During a side event, key concerns were raised regarding the loss of land, environmental impacts, potential damage to culture and language, and how these issues would affect traditional reindeer herding and shape the Sámi response to the Arctic railway plan. The Suohpanterror collective, made up of anonymous Sámi artists, presented a poster exhibition at the event to introduce a Sámi perspective on the planned Arctic railway. Three main concerns were highlighted:

1. The Arctic railway’s contribution to climate change.

2. The introduction of heavy infrastructure, including power lines and service buildings, in the fragile Arctic environment.

3. The reduction of grazing lands for reindeer and the potential increase in the number of reindeer being hit by trains.

The PARTY project organised a poster exhibition to raise awareness about these issues and to present an art-based approach for making a statement. This poster exhibition at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was conducted as a participatory workshop, encouraging all attendees to join in. PARTY (Participatory Development with Youth) co-organized the side event with the Youth Council of Sámi.

Poster Intervention at No access without consent – Arctic Railway and Future of Saami Youth Side Event at UNPFII 16.-27.4.2018.