Aikio reflects on Sámi rights legacy in Vuotso, Finland

Pekka Aikio, an 80-year-old from Vuotso, reflects on his father’s legacy of handwritten thoughts and advocacy for Sámi rights. Growing up in a reindeer herding family, Aikio began documenting his father’s ideas with a typewriter. As he matured, he recognized the need for Sámi representation in decision-making processes. “We had to follow the orders of others; the land always belonged to the state or others, leaving the Sámi with no ownership,” he stated.

Born two days after the Continuation War ended on September 21, 1944, Aikio earned the nickname “Siika-Pekka” from his birthplace, Siikaselkä, rather than for his fishing skills. Fellow Sámi politician Matti Morottaja recalls Aikio’s dedication to Sámi issues, highlighting Aikio’s involvement in various legislation concerning Sámi livelihoods, culture, and language, especially in land use.

Aikio was the first chairman of the Sámi Parliament in Finland, an evolution from the Sámi Council he led since its establishment in 1976. His tenure lasted until 2007 and was marked by significant achievements in Sámi self-governance. Legal expert Juha Guttorm notes Aikio’s integral role in formulating the Sámi Law in the early 1990s and drafting a supplementary protocol for Sámi rights when Finland joined the EU.

Aikio has long advocated for a unified Sámi Parliament across Finland, Sweden, and Norway, believing regional cooperation must be prioritized. He expresses disappointment that the Nordic Sámi agreement proposed towards the end of his political career in 2005 has stalled due to government unwillingness. Aikio urges younger activists to appreciate cross-border collaboration among Indigenous nations. “It is crucial that we work together not just within the Nordic region but also internationally,” he emphasizes.