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Addressee: Member States
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The Forum encourages Member States to facilitate the establishment of civil society organizations, including indigenous organizations, to assist in the preservation and protection of indigenous cultural heritage.
Responses
The Government of Finland reports the following:
The preservation and development of the indigenous culture and the transfer of cultural heritage to the younger generations are an essential part of the activities of Sami community. The support granted by the Ministry of Education to Sami culture and Sami organisations is allocated by the Sami Parliament. In 2004 this appropriation was 168,000 euros and in 2005, 193,000 euros. In addition, the Ministry allocates 12,000 euros to the preservation and maintenance of Sami hut churches in 2005. Further, the Ministry supports the activities of Sami artist organisations and the Finnish section of the Sami Council, which is a joint advisory body of Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian and Russian Sami organisations.
The Ministry of Education continues to support the Sami youth organisations (Suoma Sama Nuorat) with a view to promoting voluntary activities of the young Sami. In addition, the Ministry has allocated separate grants to the Sami Parliament for the organisation of Sami Young Art events. These events put into action the right of the young Sami to cherish and develop their own culture.
The Government of Norway reports the following:
The Samediggi has been delegated responsibility for the administration of parts of the Cultural Heritage Act (Act of 9 June 1978 No. 50) and for the allocation of funds for the protection of cultural heritage of the Sami people. These fudns are to be used for the following: Sami music festivals, grants for Sami artists, support to Sami cultural institutions for exhibitions, theatre, the place name service, follow-up of language legislation, the Sami specialist library, the mobile library service and Sami museums. The Samediggi sets the priorities for the allocation of funds.
Final Report of UNPFII Session 3 (2004)
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