Pioneering Indigenous Intra-Party Representation: the Sámi, the Norwegian Labour Party, and a New Model for Indigenous Inclusion

Comparative studies of party organizations have seen considerable progress during the last decades. However, few studies have looked into formal linkages between social groups and political parties by means of sub-organizations for various groups within the party. These can be demographic groups (e.g. women and youth), economic interests, and ethnic or religious groups. To be sure, some previous studies of party sub-organizations exist, mainly on party youth organizations. In this paper, however, we explore a type of sub-organization that has received little attention in the literature: sub-organizations for Indigenous peoples. More specifically, we present an in-depth study, based on party documents, media articles, and qualitative interviews, of a specific case: the development of a Sámi sub-organization within the Norwegian Labour Party. A new model for Indigenous representation grew forth within the Norwegian Labour Party during the 1990s and early 2000s. This happened in a context with increasing Sámi demands for self-determination. The Sámi Parliament model for Indigenous representation had just been launched and was in an early development phase. Norway was undergoing a conflict-ridden process of clarifying the Indigenous rights to natural resources in the Sámi settlement area, and what these rights should mean in practice. In this paper we investigate how and why this precise model grew forth within the Labour Party, what effect it had on other political parties in Norway, and some benefits and limitations inherent in the model. While our focus is specifically on Indigenous representation, other groups’ internal party organizations will serve as a benchmark, with which the organization of Indigenous interests will be compared.