For over a century, Norway implemented policies that forcibly suppressed the languages and cultures of Indigenous peoples and minority groups, including the removal of children from their families, in a system known as “Norwegianization.” The repercussions of these actions continue to be felt today.
This week, Norway’s Parliament issued a formal apology to the Sami, Kven, and Forest Finn peoples and outlined 17 resolutions aimed at addressing the ongoing discrimination they face. These resolutions include measures to protect minority languages and ensure that children receive education in those languages.
The Parliament's decision, approved on Tuesday, was welcomed by Sami leader Silje Karine Muotka, who described it as “a day with many emotions.” However, she emphasized the need for tangible and significant actions to follow the apology.
“Going forward, we expect an active policy of reconciliation,” Muotka stated in a written response. She noted that the decision ensures long-term follow-up with both financial and legal implications, but highlighted that ongoing injustices related to land and water conflicts remain unaddressed.
While Norway has some legislation recognizing the Sami’s rights to grazing land, disputes over land use in relation to Sami culture and lifestyle have persisted for years.
The apology and accompanying resolutions were prompted by a report from a Truth and Reconciliation Commission published last year, which provided recommendations for addressing Norway's oppressive historical actions. King Harald V had previously apologized to the Sami people, but this marks the first public acknowledgment of the harm faced by the Kvens and Forest Finns.
Svein Harberg, a Conservative Party lawmaker, remarked that the historical assimilation policies continue to be a source of personal hardship and conflict for the affected groups. Only one faction of lawmakers, from the right-wing Progress Party, opposed the resolutions, arguing they could incite community conflict.
The Sami, an Indigenous group numbering approximately 100,000, have inhabited Europe’s northernmost regions for centuries, with the largest population residing in Norway. The Kvens and Forest Finns are smaller groups that migrated to Norway about 500 years ago, all of which have faced systemic discrimination since the 19th century.
Norwegianization policies utilized education and religion to erase the languages and cultures of these groups, restricting their access to grazing lands and fishing, and forcibly relocating them. Sami children were often taken from their families and placed in Norwegian foster homes and state-run boarding schools, while Christian mission churches suppressed cultural beliefs.
Although Norway officially ended legislated discrimination in the 1960s, its effects are still evident. A Truth and Reconciliation Commission found that members of these groups have lower access to healthcare, endangered languages, and face bullying and harassment from broader Norwegian society.
A 2021 survey from the Arctic University of Norway indicated that 60 percent of residents believed most people were unaware of the impacts of the assimilation policies on the Sami, with that figure rising to 88 percent regarding the Forest Finns and Kvens.
Even among those aware of the injustices, negative stereotypes persist. Eva Josefsen, a political scientist and Sami representative, described the parliamentary apology as a significant gesture but noted its lack of clarity on land rights as a critical shortcoming.
Norway's Parliament maintains a working relationship with the Sami Parliament, an independent assembly established in 1989. Harberg expressed hope that the formal apology could enhance focus on the Kvens and Forest Finns.
Varhild Bakke Berntzen, a board member of Young Forest Finns, highlighted the feeling of invisibility among smaller minorities in Norway. She stated, “A lot of damage has happened, and our generation today suffers the consequences of this.” Berntzen called for the government to take significant steps towards reparative actions, emphasizing that the real work lies ahead.