The goal of the festival is to bring forward both Sámi culture and that of other indigenous peoples.

The festival has permanent support from the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs, the Sámi parliament, Troms county and Kåfjord municipality.

[2] The festival was launched by a group of young Sámi on New Year's Eve 1991 at Olmmáivággi (Norwegian: Manndalen).

During the 1990s, the anti-Sámi sentiment was especially strong in the area with Sámi road-signs being shot to pieces and families being split.

In 1998, the Riddu Riđđu Searvi organization was established and has since been responsible for arranging the festival.