To investigate the establishment and foundation of the Sami parliaments particularly the extent of their vested power, responsibility and representative structure

The project will examine the foundations and nature of the Sami Indigenous parliaments of Finland, Norway and Sweden. It will consider the establishment and foundation of the parliaments, the extent of their vested power and responsibility and the representative structure. This is highly relevant to Australia where a Voice to Parliament has been promoted in national Indigenous politics and government is exploring relevant options. The project will be informed by human rights law, specifically the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It will explore how the Sami parliaments implement the international human rights norms set out in the UNDRIP and look also at the challenges experienced.