Jannie Staffansson (Saami)

Jannie Staffansson is living on the Arctic Circle in Jokkmokk, Sápmi. Jannie belongs to the Indigenous Peoples of Scandinavia and northwest of Russia, the Saami. She is from a reindeer herding family, and together with her partner, they are working with their reindeer. Jannie is currently focused on educating herself in Saami ways and strengthening her Indigenous knowledge in relation to reindeer herding. This knowledge is needed to survive extreme events caused by climate change. When she is not out with the reindeer, she is working as a consultant, assisting Saami organizations and communities often in relation to climate change issues, capacity building, and Indigenous Peoples’ rights. She has a background in environmental studies and organic chemistry. She worked as an advisor for a Saami organization on environmental and Indigenous rights issues, where she participated in negotiations of the Indigenous Peoples’ Platform within UNFCCC during and after the Paris Agreement. Jannie was a member of the Arctic Council Working Group on Assessment and Monitoring Programme (AMAP) and its associated expert groups on black carbon and methane, persistent organic pollutants, and climate change. She also served on the board of the Sustaining Arctic Observation Network (SAON). She heals when being far up in the mountains, off the grid, being around her herding dogs, and giving back to Mother Earth.