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Introduction -- Classical international law and early philosophy theory on peoples' rights -- Political theory that underpins the law -- International law on international legal sources -- Indigenous peoples' legal status under contemporary international law -- The content and scope of the right to self-determination when applied to indigenous peoples -- The right to equality -- Indigenous communities' property rights over lands and natural resources traditionally used -- The content and scope of indigenous communities' property rights over lands and natural resources traditionally used -- Summary

In Finland the legal definition of the indigenous Sámi has been debated heatedly for years and more recently it has entered academic circles. Some scholars submit that the current law-based definition in Finland is all too narrow, and argue that there should be more emphasis on self-identification by the individual. Further claims state that the ILO Convention No. 169 identifies the subjects of the Convention, also on an individual level; wherefore it follows from the Convention which individuals in Finland are Sámi. The present article analyses these arguments critically and establishes certain legal parameters that the discussion on Sámi definition needs to follow in order to comply with international law, and especially indigenous peoples' right to self-determination.Keywords: Sámi rights, Sámi definition, ILO Convention No. 169, indigenous peoples' self-determination, Sámi in Finland.Citation: Arctic Review on Law and Politics, vol. 5, 1/2014 pp. 123–143. ISSN 1891-6252

In Finland the legal definition of the indigenous Sámi has been debated heatedly for years and more recently it has entered academic circles. Some scholars submit that the current law-based definition in Finland is all too narrow, and argue that there should be more emphasis on self-identification by the individual. Further claims state that the ILO Convention No. 169 identifies the subjects of the Convention, also on an individual level; wherefore it follows from the Convention which individuals in Finland are Sámi. The present article analyses these arguments critically and establishes certain legal parameters that the discussion on Sámi definition needs to follow in order to comply with international law, and especially indigenous peoples' right to self-determination.Keywords: Sámi rights, Sámi definition, ILO Convention No. 169, indigenous peoples' self-determination, Sámi in Finland.Citation: Arctic Review on Law and Politics, vol. 5, 1/2014 pp. 123–143. ISSN 1891-6252