Tiõrv!

Vesa Orassalo’s panel speech 
 
Tiõrv! 

We have the pleasure and honour to publish Vesa Orassalo’s speech at the CAP-SHARE panel Intergenerational Capacity Sharing: The Connection Between Nature and Youth. The panel was held at the Arctic Frontiers conference in February 2026 in Tromsø, Norway.

The speech was originally given in Finnish, and it has been translated into English, Northern Sámi, Inari Sámi and Skolt Sámi.
 
Panel speech: Tiõrv! 
 
Vesa Orassalo, Skolt Sámi Fisherman and Preservice Teacher, University of Lapland

Tiõrv!
 
I was given a wonderful opportunity to attend the Arctic Frontiers 2026 conference in Tromsø. In this article, I will tell you about my participation in the CAP-SHARE panel discussion. The topics discussed include the Sámi identity, the Arctic and education.
 
First, I want to tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Vesa Orassalo and I study education at the University of Lapland. Deep down, I am a hunter and a fisherman. I am interested in the Arctic, the rights of indigenous peoples, and nature and its conservation. I come from the small village of Neiden in the Skolt Sámi region at the border of Finland and Norway.
 
The timing for the conference was perfect, as on 6 February, we celebrated the Sámi National Day. I was invited by the CAP-SHARE project of the Faculty of Education of the University of Lapland to participate in a panel discussion on young people’s views on the changing Arctic environment. I also participated in a student forum consisting of students from different parts of the Arctic region. I was also honoured to speak at the True North – Who is the Arctic? event. I was able to speak to a large audience at the event’s final Big Picture event, entitled Stories from the Coast, and I spoke about the changes in salmon fishing from the perspective of a Skolt Sámi youth.
 
CAP-SHARE panel discussion
On Wednesday morning on 4 February, I arrived nearly on time at the Saga hotel where the panel took place. I was not nervous since I was used to the situation and the concept. I had also prepared well for the questions. The topics discussed were biodiversity and the resilience of communities in the northern and Arctic regions. Two young Sámi persons, as well as Icelandic and Greenlandic youths took part in the panel discussion.
 
The first question was addressed to me.
 
What does biodiversity and the resilience of communities mean to you in your everyday life and in your home region? 

For me, biodiversity means a more interesting life. In my region, people enjoy nature in many ways. Older people, such as my grandmother, care for small animals, such as birds and rabbits, where they live. This could be the highlight of their day. As a hunter, I pay attention to aspects of diversity that affect my own way of life. By this I mean that when I see a lot of moles, I know that small predators are hunting them instead of young willow grouse. Dense willow thickets, on the other hand, mean a good hiding and feeding spot for many game animals.

Biodiversity means opportunities for me. Biodiversity and the resilience of communities mean having the capacity to face short-term and long-term changes affecting local opportunities. How does climate change and other challenges, such as overgrazing, mining, forestry, and the green transition, affect nature and how do we keep up with it? How does nature keep up with it?

What does a hopeful, fair and sustainable Arctic future look like from your perspective?

For me, it looks like a region with scars left by the current problems we are facing today. However, the region is recovering. Winters are still freezing cold. Summers continue to be tolerable to biodiversity. Salmon still head up the river to spawn. Drought is not a constant threat. Birds can still hatch in stable weather conditions. Large animals, such as reindeer and elk, can handle the heat.

The Arctic continues to exist as a place we can still recognise.

How do you feel connected to land and water, such as rivers, lakes, coastal areas, tundra, forests, or fells, and how do these relationships shape your identity and vision of the future?

The answer to this question was very similar among all Sámi panellists. In my opinion, this illustrates how we indigenous peoples experience nature as an integral part of our lives.

In my turn, I said that I feel a deep connection with nature. When nature suffers, I suffer too. Even before I started upper secondary school, I told my family and friends that when I die, I want my ashes to be spread into the wilderness. I want to be part of nature forever. These environments and the opportunities they offer have already shaped my future. To this day, every decision I have made has supported my life in the Arctic. Whether it was about school, career or relationships, I always choose the option that will guide me back to nature.

Like a salmon returning to its native river. Like a goose returning to a wild pond after the winter, I will always return to my home region. But first, I must survive the “winter” of my life, that is, university and finding direction for my life.

What role should education play in empowering young people to contribute to protecting biodiversity, adapting to climate change, and strengthening the resilience of communities?

This question was the only one that was directly related to my studies and not to my close relationship with nature. I discussed my bachelor’s thesis in class teacher education entitled “The significance of a positive relationship with nature in education”. My research revealed that especially the positive experiences of nature gained at an early age, younger than 11, are extremely important for the development of a positive relationship with nature, which in turn leads to more positive environmental behaviour.

In my answer, I stressed that teachers and the curriculum have a significant educational impact on young people who will protect the environment and act responsibly. The importance of education is growing significantly in cities and for families that do not have the same opportunity to take their children to enjoy nature as families in smaller localities.

In my opinion, school education and the curriculum should include time spent in nature.

In your opinion, how is information related to indigenous peoples and local information currently included in biodiversity management and policy-making processes?

I agreed with the other Sámi panellists that people and authorities do listen to the locals but not enough. One panellist compared the situation to consulting young people and children. They are asked for their opinion, but it rarely affects the final decision. I brought up an example of authorities ignoring local information about River Tana a few years ago. The locals reported that the location of the dam was bad, but their opinions went unheard.

Today, I am also a deputy member of the Neiden Skolt Council. Based on my experience as a member of the Council, I can say that local opinions are heard on many issues related to biodiversity and nature. However, I do not know how often the locals actually influence decisions and to what extent, because I have only held this position for a short time. Nevertheless, I think that we are moving in a good direction.

Conclusion
Arctic Frontiers was not just a conference for me, but a reminder of why I am doing what I do. Nature, my home region, and its people are not just themes for me – they are the foundation of my life. That week filled me with renewed enthusiasm and the young people I met gave me inspiration and hopefully useful contacts for the future.

If we want a future for the Arctic, we must listen to those who live there. I will do my part to make those voices heard. We must also raise new generations to join our choir.

I am incredibly grateful to the CAP-SHARE project for allowing me to participate in the conference.
 
Vesa’s WHO IS THE ARCTIC speech on YouTube:
 https://www.youtube.com/live/LEoZ7u-EOM0?si=De-Z09tvRc4VvMAS