Susanna Israelsson is from Jiellevárre in the northern part of Swedish Sápmi. She is born and raised in a reindeer herding family and holds a degree in political science from Luleå Technichal University. As an advocate for Indigenous Peoples rights, Susanna has earlier served as both vice president and union secretary in Sáminuorra – the Swedish Sámi Youth Association – which has given her the opportunities to represent Swedish Sámi youth on meetings and conferences on both national and international level. Today she works at the Arctic and Environmental Unit at the Saami Council – a non–governmental organization with Sámi member organizations in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.