Indigenous identity appropriation is a transnational issue, it isn't a problem just in Finland. People in the majority society are increasingly choosing to construct a new identity as "indigenous" based on claims to very distant ancestry or even when none is found 1/6
Many reasons explain the phenomenon: It has emerged as a backlash against the development of Indigenous rights, and as a direct response to the growing status of Indigeneity as cultural and social capital.
For others, Indigeneity might just seem much more exciting, appealing and rooted than white nationalism (quite understandable)
However, to my knowledge, Finland is the only place where social movements which promote Indigenous identity appropriation have become politically so influential that they have persuaded the state take over Indigenous right to decide who is Indigenous, in service of their cause.
For instance in North America, cases of Indigenous identity appropriation/ethnic fraud/self-Indigenization/race shifting currently focus especially on individuals who falsely claim Indigeneity in pursut of personal benefit, interesting "life stories" and career opportunities.
There, the phenomenon has been discussed thoroughly by scholars such Philip Deloria, Circe Sturm, @DarrylLeroux Leroux, @KimTallBear and Chris Andersen (among many others). Below is a fresh text by Audra Simpson. bostonglobe.com/2022/11/17/opi…
But things can be turned back too. Yesterday, Finland took the first proper step to amend the Sámi Parliament Act so that the law would protect better Sámi self-determination on this issue. The road to get the amendment approved is long but now there is hope. #saamelaiskäräjälaki
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