From Risk to Rights: A Financial Advocacy Handbook
How Sámi Advocates Can Hold Banks Accountable to Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
Financial institutions are not neutral actors. Their decisions about where money flows directly shape the futures of Indigenous Peoples. Investments in mines, wind farms, or other large-scale projects on Indigenous Peoplesʼ lands threaten the very way of life of the Sámi.
Recent examples such as Fosen and Repparfjord show how banks and investors often rely on state permits, overlooking their deeper obligations to Indigenous Peoples.
This is why financial advocacy is so important: by speaking the language of finance, Indigenous Peoples‘ communities can hold institutions accountable and push them to respect human rights and land rights in practice—not just on paper.
Our goal is to make complex financial systems accessible and to empower Sámi communities to act on their own terms. While the handbook draws on international standards, it is rooted in Indigenous Peoples‘ experiences—the impacts on our lands, our cultures, and our surroundings.
About the handbook on the OECD Guidelines complaint system:
It is available in English, 28 Pages, PDF.
Handbook CONTENTS
In Chapter 1 ‘How Financial Institutions Works’ (p.5), you will learn key terms that are used by banks, and how understanding them can help you protect your rights.
Chapter 2 Research Companies Involved (p.13), walks you through three steps for identifying private and public actors behind a corporate project.
In Chapter 3 Reaching Your Goals (p.19), you will learn about pressure points and how to combine different strategies in your advocacy work.
The work was developed through close collaboration of the Saami Council, the Tallgrass Institute, Voices and the SIRGE Coalition, with contributions from both Sámi and financial experts.
Who Is This Handbook For?
This handbook is intended to support Indigenous Peoples across Sápmi and beyond to strengthen their advocacy skills, defend their land rights, and engage with financial institutions in ways that bring about meaningful change.