Official apology will be made to the Sami people

The Central Board of the Church is also allocating SEK 40 million in strategic development funds for the work during the ten-year period 2022–2031 to achieve the Church of Sweden’s commitments, which are currently being circulated for consultation in the dioceses. The overall commitments will be established once all dioceses have submitted their responses. The Secretary-General will then draw up an action plan for the next ten-year period, in close dialogue with the Sami Council of the Church of Sweden and all the dioceses.

“We must acknowledge the dark history, even though it hurts. When we let down the Sami people, we also let down ourselves and God. An important step forward has now been taken as the Central Board of the Church is preparing a public apology, after the Sami Council of the Church of Sweden has expressed that the truth and reconciliation process has reached the point where it is appropriate for the Church of Sweden to issue an apology,” says Archbishop Antje Jackelén.

“The next step will be an action plan based on the overall commitments on which we are now awaiting feedback from the dioceses in the consultation process. There is still a long way to go, but I would like to express my joy and satisfaction that we have come this far.”

The apology will be made twice
The official apology will be made on two occasions: firstly at the General Synod’s special service of worship on 24 November in Uppsala Cathedral, and secondly at the planned Ságastallamat 2 conference in Luleå on 21–23 October 2022.

“It is positive that the Church of Sweden is actively working to acknowledge and understand the consequences of the Church’s dark actions towards the Sami people throughout history,” says Ingrid Inga, Chair of the Sami Council of the Church of Sweden.

“Now the long-term work of building a good and respectful relationship between the Sami people and the Church of Sweden can begin. This is of great significance to how the Sami become truly involved in the Church of Sweden. Sami religion and living Sami spirituality will enrich and give new dimensions to the activities of the Church of Sweden.”

Background
The Church of Sweden's work with Sami issues gained renewed momentum after the Ságastallamat conference in Kiruna on 11–13 October 2011. The multi-year assessment and mapping of the Church’s historical actions against the Sami that began after the conference have been reported in the Church of Sweden’s white paper and in the nomadic school book published in 2016.

After consultation with the Sami Council of the Church of Sweden in October 2019, the general sub-committee of the Central Board of the Church decided to work towards an official apology to the Sami people, as part of the ongoing reconciliation process between the Church of Sweden and the Sami.