Indigenous and minority rights

Toril Bakken Kåven stated that the party "[stands] firm on Sámi rights and indigenous peoples' rights" but that there was a need for responsible management of those rights. She stated that there should be freedom for deviation in order to create progress for their respective groups.^[10] The party objects to the concept of Free, prior and informed consent as the basis for northern policy.^[11] The party additionally advocates for the right for individuals to self-identify as Sámi with the party advocating for reintegration of individuals whose families were forcibly assimilated into Norwegian society and whose families no longer identify as Sámi.^[12]

The party is critical of demands to use Sámi languages as a condition to participate in Sámi politics, citing the Norwegianization policy which left many Sámi unable to speak their native tongue, stating there "should be equal opportunities to participate in Sámi politics".^[13] On the question of whether the president of the Sámi parliament should speak Sámi, the NKF believes that it is acceptable if they were to speak Norwegian, as two out of three Sámi individuals cannot speak a Sámi language.^[14] The North Calotte People are in favour of language policies that allow students to exchange their Norwegian lessons in favor of instruction in the Kven or Sámi languages. The party is in favor of additional investment in Sámi language programs and the reinstatement of book buses in the Southern and Lule Sámi areas. However, the party stressed for the simultaneous need for equal opportunity in politics and a pragmatic approach towards language.^[14]

The party advocates for equal treatment and equal conditions between the Norwegian, Sámi, and Kven populations of the north.^[15] On issues of land use, the North Calotte People cite the communal usage by the three groups as basis for the rejection of Sámi veto rights over northern land.^[15] During the 2013 election, North Calotte People expressed their interest for the transformation of the Sámi Parliament into a joint Sámi and Kven parliament.^[16]

The party has been criticized by the leader of the Norwegian Sámi Association, Runar Myrnes Balto, for having "refined the art of attacking the rights of Sámi and presenting it as an equality project".^[17] He stated that the party portrayed the Sámi as wanting to have supremacy over the northern peoples, leading to an image of a culture war in the north. Myrnes Balto described the leader of the North Calotte People, Toril Bakken Kåven, as a "Trumper".^[17] Myrnes Balto had previously compared the party's policies to those of Jarl Hellesvik and his anti-Sámi organization EDL.^[11]

Environment

North Calotte People oppose expanding additional protections on local lands, citing the sustainable use of nature as the best kind of protection.^[18] The party additionally opposes the concept of the Sámi veto right with regards to land and natural encroachment by industry, an idea put forth by the NSR, Labour, and Centre parties.^[10] The party has previously worked to loosen protection for Sámi outfield industry, which was criticized by the NSR for paving the way for industries to gain access to the outfields.^[17]