Ladies and gentlemen. Dear friends.

First of all let me express my appreciation for being invited to address this second meeting of the Forum for Development Cooperation with Indigenous Peoples here in Tromsø. I’m starting to feel very much at home here. I was in this room just two days ago speaking to the Annual Conference of Norwegian Development Researchers. My wife, however, is starting to get suspicious. What are my real reasons for going up to Tromsø all the time...

But my conscience is clear, more than clear at least as far as my wife is concerned. Two days ago I spoke about "development as freedom"—a perspective on development that takes man, the human being, as the measure and ultimate objective of our efforts. Development must, in this perspective, be about expanding human freedoms—so that we all one day can live lives that we have reason to value and appreciate, both as individuals and communities. This perspective goes way beyond stimulating economic growth or providing "basic needs". I argued that we needed the contributions of researchers to help us formulate policies for the expansion of freedoms. I believe you can already find my statement on the Ministry’s web pages.

Today I am happy to be back in Tromsø at an event that puts the situation of indigenous peoples at the center of attention. I am even more pleased with the fact that progress is being made when it comes to addressing indigenous peoples’ issues in the context of development cooperation. If development is about expanding freedoms, the plight of indigenous peoples in many parts of the world is certainly a cause of great concern. Because indigenouse peoples continue to suffer from a lot of "unfreedom" in terms of their relations to society at large. I think this conference will bring out the precarious situation of many indigenous peoples in the world today. It is important that we all pay attention to them. Therefore, a very warm welcome to all of you and particularly representatives of indigenous peoples around the world – from the Government of Norway. (Guatemala, Nicaragua, Botswana, South Africa)

This Forum was established as a follow-up of an evaluation of the Norwegian Program for Indigenous Peoples. The evaluation report pointed out the need for a forum where Norwegian and international institutions could meet to discuss development issues relating to indigenous peoples. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs agreed to this recommendation. It found that a forum where Norwegian institutions dealing with indigenous issues might share their experiences with similar non-Norwegian institutions, also would strengthen the quality of Norwegian development assistance.

The University of Tromsø was invited to host the forum. I find that very appropriate. The University has a strong and internationally recognized track record regarding research on indigenous issues.

The Norwegian development program for indigenous peoples was started in 1983. The program, which probably was the first of its kind, has a mandate "to strengthen the capacity and ability of indigenous peoples to shape and control their own development". Technical and financial assistance has been offered for projects in the area of human rights, health, culture and education. In addition institution building and networking have been emphasized.

The evaluation of the Norwegian program found it relevant to the needs of indigenous peoples. Several projects had had a major impact on the situation of indigenous peoples in various countries. Projects under the program had led to a higher degree of organization building amongst indigenous peoples, including among indigenous women.

Competence building is central in the Norwegian development assistance to indigenous peoples. It is of fundamental importance to contribute to education at all levels. Programs of scholarships may be one way of contributing to this aim.

The institutions representing the Sámi people in Norway, i.a. the Sámi Parliament and the Sámi Council have, through their contacts with indigenous peoples in other parts of the world, gained a unique knowledge of their situation. This knowledge must be a fundamental part in the development of strategies for Norwegian assistance to indigenous peoples.

Research and information sharing on the situation of indigenous peoples is of paramount importance for developing a strategy for sustainable development for indigenous peoples. Norwegian research institutions, in co-operation with their international partners, contribute to the development of new knowledge and increased understanding of issues concerning indigenous peoples. In this partnership, Norwegian Sami institutions play a crucial role.

The Center for Sámi Studies here at the University in Tromsø has contributed to increased research and education relating to the situation for the Sami people. The Sámi College and the Nordic Sámi Institute, both in Kautokeino, are key elements in the development of knowledge and competence on indigenous issues.

In the Plan of Action for Human Rights that was presented in 1999, one important measure was to establish a resource center for the rights of indigenous peoples. The reason for the establishment of such a center, situated in northern Norway, was to raise awareness of aspects of human rights for indigenous peoples in the region, in the country as a whole and internationally. The center should supply information to schools, institutions and organizations on topics relating to indigenous peoples.

I am happy to see that this project is in its final stage and that the Center will be formally established in Kautokeino early next year.

I would like to emphasize however, that the Center has not been established in competition with other established educational and research institutions dealing with indigenous issues. The Center will complement the work done elsewhere. It will not carry out research on it own, but point to areas where more research may be needed.

Due to their special relations to the land on which they live, indigenous peoples have gained information that we all need. Unfortunately this information is often disregarded, which in turn results in environmental disasters - the destruction of the rain forests being one example. It is therefore important that indigenous knowledge is brought into the international processes relating to environmental and development issues. It has been the policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support indigenous organizations wishing to present their views on these issues.

We are now into the second part of the International Decade for the World’s Indigenous People. The Decade has two concrete aims. One is to conclude a UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the other to establish a Permanent Forum on indigenous issues within the UN.

With regards to the conclusion of a UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, progress has not been as fast as could be hoped for. Several fundamental issues, for instance the right to self-determination for indigenous peoples, has not yet been agreed upon. However, the deliberations continue, and we still aim to reach an agreement before 2004, when the Decade ends. In the national preparations for the UN meetings on this issue, the government has put great emphasis on co-operation with the Sámi Parliament, even though our ideas may have differed considerably.

The second aim of the Decade, the establishment of a Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues within the UN, has had more success. The UN General Assembly voted last year that such a Forum should be established. The process of selecting the members of the forum is going forward. The Forum will meet for the first time in New York in May next year. The establishment of the forum marks a significant development in the recognition of indigenous peoples' rights. The forum will consist of eight members elected by governments and eight selected from indigenous organizations and groups. This will be the first time representatives not nominated from UN member governments will take part at an equal level with members elected by governments.

The promotion and protection of indigenous peoples' rights will be an important issue for my government. We will work in close cooperation with representatives from the Sámi population, both in developing strategies for economic development for indigenous peoples in Latin America, Africa and Asia, and on human rights issues within the UN.

The perspective of indigenous peoples is a valuable resource when we formulate policies to meet the challenges of globalization. Management of resources, poverty reduction, financing of development - these are core issues in the international debate prior to the international summit on sustainable development in Johannesburg in September 2002.

Indigenous peoples live in all kinds of natural-ecological settings, from the arctic regions to the desert, from the savanna to the tropical rainforest, in coastal areas and thousands of kilometers from the sea. Many of them live very close to nature, and are as vulnerable as the ecosystem they depend upon. What most indigenous peoples have in common is that they have been economically and politically marginalized for generations.

Everyone has the right of a voice and a right to be heard. That is why we are here today: to strengthen our efforts so that the voices of the indigenous peoples are listened to, so that we together can make the right decisions in our development efforts. Through combined efforts, by working together, we will be able to make a difference.

Thank you.