Åsa Larsson Blind (born 29 August 1980)[1] is a Swedish-Sámi politician who as of March 2021 serves as vice president of the Saami Council.

Åsa Larsson Blind
Saami Council Vice President
Assumed office
23 February 2021
Saami Council President
In office
11 February 2017 – 23 February 2021
Saami Council Vice President
In office
2011 – 11 February 2017
Personal details
Born (1980-08-29) 29 August 1980 (age 44)
Alma materUniversity of Umeå

Political life

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She grew up in a Sámi family that cares for reindeer. She has studied at the University of Umeå and holds a master's degree in human resource management.[2] Larsson Blind joined the Saami Council in 2008 as a representative of Ruoŧa Sámiid Riikkasearvi [sv] (SSR, the National Union of the Swedish Sámi People). In 2011, she was elected vice president of the council and in February 2017 was elected president.[3] Her term as president ended in February 2021 and she was again elected vice president. In her time with the Saami Council, Larsson Blind also served from 2011 to 2015, on the board of the Arctic Council Indigenous Peoples Secretariat.

In 2019, she became the first woman elected to lead the SSR.[4][5]

Personal life

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Born to a family of reindeer herders, Larsson Blind is originally from Rans Sameby [sv] in Västerbotten, Sweden, but lives in Övre Soppero in Norrbotten. She holds a master's degree in human resources management from the University of Umeå.[4][3]

References

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  1. ^ "Åsa Larsson Blind, 41 år i Övre Soppero på Övre Soppero 137 - telefon, ålder och födelsedag". Birthday.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Åsa Larsson Blind". Sámiráđđi (in Norwegian). Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  3. ^ a b Larsen, Dan Robert (11 February 2017). "Dette er Samerådets nye president" [Meet the Saami Council's new president]. NRK Sápmi (in Norwegian). Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Åsa Larsson Blind // Оса Ларссон Блинд". Kárášjohka, Norway: Sámiráđđi. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  5. ^ Eira, Karen; karen.eira@sverigesradio.se; Björne, Sara; Niia, Anna-Karin (5 June 2019). "Åsa Larsson Blind första kvinnan som SSR:s ordförande". Sveriges Radio (in Swedish). Retrieved 15 May 2022.
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