A leader of the Sami indigenous peoples of Northern Europe is among the scheduled speakers at the 2011 Indigenous Rights Symposium at the University of Hawaii at Manoa this week.

Magne Ove Varsi is due to speak on panels Feb. 11-12 addressing self-determination, sustainability, land and natural resources.

He’s expected to be joined by University of Hawaii Professor Jonathan Osorio, Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chief Advociate Esther Kiaaina and others.

Varsi is a Sami rights leader and founder of the Gáldu Resource Centre for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Norway. The center was created to increase information about the rights of Sami and other indigenous peoples.

The Sami live in the northern areas of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia.