The purposes of the Saami Council are to: The Saami Council actively works to promote Sámi cultural, political, economic, civil, social and spiritual rights and interests by providing statements and proposals regarding Sámi in the four nations.

Beyond this, they exercise influence on behalf of Sámi by participating in international processes related to indigenous peoples around the world, human rights, Arctic and environmental issues and it holds status as permanent participant to the Arctic Council.

The Saami Council emphasizes international collaboration among indigenous peoples' organizations around the world, and holds a particularly close relationship to the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), which represents the Inuit, Yupik, and Chukchi[citation needed] of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Chukotka (Russia).

It consists of 72 delegates, all of them representing one of the nine member organizations in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Russia.

The members are supposed to pose a wide representation of the range of arts and culture branches.

Culture projects working in a pan-Sápmi perspective are prioritized in accordance to the Saami Council's purpose of unifying the Sámi people.

As of 2020[update], nine organizations are members of the Saami Council: The Saami Council's Honorary Award is given to a person, organization, association or institution that is considered to have contributed to the strengthening of the Sámi peoples togetherness and fellowship, and to helping Sámi safeguard their traditions, livelihoods, mindsets, languages and other non-materialistic traditions.