The 17th Polar Law Symposium and the Opening Speech of Rector Anders Fällström

Abstract

From September 23 to 26, 2024, Gaskeuniversiteete (Mid Sweden University) hosted the 17th Polar Law Symposium. The event was officially opened by the university’s rector, Anders Fällström, who, in his speech, underscored the significance of the symposium for both the university and its role as a global institution with a strong commitment to regional engagement. Fällström highlighted that Gaskeuniversiteete is the only university in Sweden located within the South Sámi region, with Sámi issues forming a central part of its academic mission.

The editors of Arctic Review on Law and Politics attended the symposium and are pleased to have received permission to publish Rector Fällström’s speech. One of the key reasons for publishing the speech is that it exemplifies the commitment academic institutions have toward the surrounding Indigenous communities. For the Indigenous Sámi people, such commitments include research, education, and collaboration aimed at promoting the use of traditional knowledge and developing expertise in Sámi culture, language, and law. It is hoped that Gaskeuniversiteete will continue to foster this Indigenous-academia partnership, ensuring its success in practice as well as in principle.