Sweden must apologise for harm done to Sami people, says state-backed report

An independent commission established by the Swedish state has urged the government to apologise for the "harm and injustice inflicted upon the Sami people" and to initiate a national process for "redress and reconciliation." The Truth Commission for the Sami People published its report on Wednesday, following a four-year investigation that included hundreds of interviews with Sami individuals across Sweden.

The commission's report specifically calls for an urgent apology to elderly Sami individuals who were forced as children to attend segregated so-called "nomad schools" and other boarding schools where they faced "violations or abuse."

The report was presented to Parisa Liljestrand, the former culture minister, as no new government was in place following the recent election. The commission's chair, Lena Nyberg, emphasized the responsibility handed over to the government, stating, "We hand over a big responsibility."