NEWS


26/12/05 The IXth International Congress of Finno-Ugric writers "Writer - Literature - Reader"
14/08/05
International conference on languages, from 6 to 9 November 2005,Petrozavodsk, Karelia, Russia

08/08/05 The Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples Dr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen Palais Wilson, Geneva

08/08/05 The High Commissioner on Human Rights Mdm. Louise Arbour Palais Wilson, Geneva

08/08/05 H.E.The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, Geneva

08/08/05 Statement by Nadezhda Novik of the Inter-regional public organisation "LlENIP"

08/08/05 Speech by Nadezhda Novik, Chair of Krasnoyarsk's "Argish" ethnic information centre for human rights "LIENIP" interregional public organisation

19/07/05 The 23-rd Session of the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples

19/07/05 Visit of German Journalists to Altai

04/06/05 Competition "The Best Ethnic Web Site"

31/05/05 Training seminar "Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Legislation in the Russian Federation"

19/02/05 "Turkology as a norm of the civilized compromise between cultures"

09/02/05 Meeting of Directors of regional Information Centers

09/02/05 Chaga-Bairam (Altai New Year) celebration

09/02/05 Altai people's Kurultai to be held

09/02/05 Announce: Indigenous People Rights workshop

27/12/04 Recommendations of the Participants of the International Conference "Rights of the Indigenous Peoples: Russian and the World Contexts"

10/12/04 Statement by Gulvaira Shermatova, NPIR project coordinator at the international conference

Announce: International Conference "Rights of the Indigenous people: Russian and world-wide contexts"

07/12/04 Altai in International Mountain Partnership

17/11/04 On November, 17-25 2004 in Bangkok World Concervation Congress will take place.

11/11/04 In Krasnoyarsk International Scientific-Practical Conference "Indigenous Peoples" started

03/11/04 Questions of land-tenure in Ongudai Region of Altai Republic

18/10/04 Telengits Kurultai and 140th anniversary of joining Telengits to Russia

17/10/04 News from Krasnoyarsk Regional Indigenous Information Center "Argish"

08/10/04 News from Youth Information Center "Nevond", Karelia Republic

12/08/04 Karelia Republic participates at IV World Congress of the Finnish-Ugric peoples

21/07/04 22 session of the Working Group on Indigenous Population Statement by Chagat Almashev, LIENIP

20/07/04 22 session of the Working Group on Indigenous Population Statement by Kamila Shermatova, NGO "Istok" & LIENIP

01/03/04 In a Decade of Indigenous peoples of the world in the Republics of Altai and Karelia, Krasnoyarsk krai (territory) Indigenous Information Centers

  

 


26/12/05

Information letter # 1

About the conducting of the IXth International Congress of Finno-Ugric writers
Republic of Karelia, Petrozavodsk, September, 26-29 in 2006

W R I T E R - L I T E R A T U R E - R E A D E R

There will be held the IXth International Congress of Finno-Ugric writers on September, 26-29 in 2006 in the Republic of Karelia (the city of Petrozavodsk).
The organizational committee on the preparation and conducting of the Congress is led by the Head of the Republic of Karelia Sergey Katanandov. The forum is held by the Unit of the writers of the Republic of Karelia, the State Committee on Ethnic Policy Issues, the Ministry on Culture and the Connections with the Public of the Republic of Karelia, the Board of the International Association of the Finno-Ugric Literatures.
The delegates of the Congress are representatives of the regional boards of the Association of the Finno-Ugric Literatures. In case there are no Associations, the delegates are chosen at the meeting of the functioning Union of writers, a national-cultural organization or an autonomy. The organizational committee appeals to you to include the representatives of youth and journalists who write in national languages into the delegation. Foreign delegates and guests are going to be provided with visa support.
Except the delegates Guests of honour are invited to the Congress. They are famous writers, poets, translators, specialists in study of literature, journalists and public figures who have made a contribution to the study and development of literature and journalism in the Finno-Ugric languages. The candidatures of the Guests of honour are recommended by the board of the International Association of the Finno-Ugric Literatures on coordination with the organizational committee. The decision on the quantity of the delegates and the Guests of honour is made by the chief of the regional boards of the Association and is coordinated with the organizational committee. You can include one representative of the regional press and TV into the delegation.
The preliminary organizational fee for the foreign delegates and guests of the Congress is 50 €.

The arrival of the delegates and guests of the congress - September, 26.
The plenary meeting is on September, 27 in the National Theatre of the Republic of Karelia. The work in sections - September, 28. On September, 29 we suggest accepting section and final recommendations of the Congress. Within the framework of the evening and cultural programmes the presentations of the international Exhibition of the Finno-Ugric Literatures, creative evenings and meetings, a literature-musical evening, attending of a performance in the State National Theatre of the Republic of Karelia, excursions, official receptions.
The working languages of the Congress are Russian, Finnish, and English, and the native languages of the Finno-Ugric peoples. The interpreting into the Russian, Finnish, and English languages during the plenary meeting and the sections is provided by the organizing side. The materials which are necessary for the participation in the work at the forum in the native Finno-Ugric languages are sent to the address of the organizational committee with the translation into one of the working languages. The work of the following sections is supposed to be held:

1. Prose.

2. Poetry.

3. Drama.

4. Literature for children.

5. Folklore.

The minutes of the election of the delegates (with the questionnaires) and the recommendation letters about the candidatures of the Guests of honour to the Congress are sent to the organizers till June, 1 in 2006. The organizational committee requests to send the topic of the presentation at the plenary meeting and the working sections till August, 15 in 2006. We also suggest that you should inform us about the decision to participate in several sections.
The accommodation and nourishment expenses of the delegates and Guests of honour are assumed by the receiving side, the transportation expenses are provided by the sending side. The observers and journalists, except those included into the delegation, provide their participation in the Congress independently.

Within the framework of the Congress an International exhibition of the Finno-Ugric literatures and the presentations of the books and publishing projects in the fields of fiction and science literature in the Finno-Ugric languages, as well as in the Russian and English languages on the theme of the Congress, are going to be held.
For the International exhibition of the Finno-Ugric literatures the organizational committee requests to send books, published in the period from 2004 till 2006, till August, 1 to the National library of the Republic of Karelia address with a notice "The IXth congress of Finno-Ugric writers". It is desirable to attach your exhibition with a short annotation. The fund of the exhibition is free of charge. The exhibition is intended to be opened a month before the work of the Congress.
The applications for the presentations of the books and publishing projects are sent till September, 1 to the organizational committee address with the short descriptions of the books and the indications of the necessary attached materials for the organization of the presentations.
Within the framework of the preparation to the Congress the publishing of the traditional set INF with the description and analysis of the process of the creative writing in the Finno-Ugric languages, the main achievements and problems in this field. The presented materials for the set for each delegation are obligatory. The materials are accepted till May, 1 to the literature sector of the Institute of the Language, Literature and History of the Karelian Scientific Centre of the Russian Science Academy address with a notice "The IXth congress of Finno-Ugric writers".

You can find the information about the IX International congress of Finno-Ugric writers on the sites of the Centres of the Finno-Ugric peoples: www.finugor.komiinform.ru (The Republic of Komi) and www.suri.ee (Estonia), in the Finno-Ugric bulletin (The Republic of Mari-El) and the Literature bulletin of M.A.Castren community (Finland).

Contacts:

1. The State Committee of the Republic of Karelia on Ethnic Policy Issues
185610, The Republic of Karelia, Petrozavodsk, Kujbyshev st., 5
The Secretariat of the organizational committee of the Congress: Natalja Antonova, the deputy head of the State Committee of the Republic of Karelia on Ethnic Policy Issues.
Phone/fax number: (8142) 784355, 784356, 768891
e-mail: natalja.antonova@mail.ru

2. The National Library of the Republic of Karelia
185910, The Republic of Karelia, Petrozavodsk, Pushkinskaja st., 17
Irina Dobrynina, the head
Phone/fax number: (8142) 782875
e-mail: irina@library.karelia.ru

3. The Institute of the Language, Literature and History of the Karelian Scientific Centre of the Russian Scientific Academy, Literature sector
185910, The Republic of Karelia, Petrozavodsk, Pushkinskaja st., 11
Natalja Tchikina, junior research fellow of the literature sector
Phone number: (8142) 769400, fax number: 781686
e-mail: tchikina@krc.karelia.ru

4. The Union of the writers of the Republic of Karelia
185610, The Republic of Karelia, Petrozavodsk, Kirov st., 12
Konstantin Gnetnev, the head
Phone number: (8142) 777060


Enclosure
To information letter # 1

The IXth International Congress of Finno-Ugric writers
"Writer - literature - reader"

The Republic of Karelia, Petrozavodsk
September, 26-29 in 2006


QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE DELEGATE OF THE CONGRESS

1. Family name, first name (pseudonym - in case you have it)
2. Year of birth
3. Place of residence
4. Nationality
5. Occupation, profession, social position
6. Do you need an invitation and visa support (if not a citizen of the Russian Federation)
7. Which literature association (union, studio) do you belong to?
8. Your experience in creative writing (main achievements, views)
9. Which languages your works, publications are in?
10. What do you know about the national literature of Karelia, which names of the Karelian writers do you know best of all?

 




14/08/05


INFORMATION CALL


The Institute of Language, Literature and History of the Karelian Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the State Committee of the Republic of Karelia on Ethnic Policy Issues, the Ministry of Education and Youth Issues of the Republic of Karelia, the Finno-Ugric Consultative Committee, the Karelian Institute of Teachers Skills Upgrading, the Republican Centre of Ethnic Cultures, together with participation of the regional public organizations of indigenous peoples, hold an international conference "The problems of endangered native languages' teaching: theory of and practice in creating textbooks and teaching materials of new generation" from 6 to 9 November 2005 in Petrozavodsk, Karelia, Russia.

The Conference participants are invited to give presentations on the following issues:

Analysis of possibilities and opportunities, provided by the Russian legislation and the norms of international law on the languages and education for the preservation, studying and development of the languages of the peoples of Russia;
Information about activities of federal and regional authorities on creating conditions for preservation, studying and development of the endangered languages of the peoples of the Russian Federation in the system of education, including:
- languages' usage in the pre-school education;
- organization of languages' studying within the framework of optional education;
- organization of languages' studying within the framework of curricula at all the stages of schooling: in the preparatory classes, if available, in the primary (1-4 forms), secondary (5-9 forms), high (10-11 forms) schools;
- practice and problems of textbooks, teaching and auxiliary aids and materials' development for pre-schoolchildren, pupils, students, who have poor or no command of the ethnic languages;
- practice and problems of developing teaching, teaching and methodical, and scientific and popular literature on the history and culture of the peoples, whose languages are endangered, for schools, vocational schools, colleges and higher educational establishments;- problems of endangered languages teachers' training;
Making the scientific researches of the endangered languages more active, use of the scientific researches' results in the practical activities on organization of the languages' teaching-learning process at educational establishments of various levels;
Use (systematization, transfer to the modern information holders) of the archival language materials (manuscripts, audio, video) in the research and teaching activities;
Use of modern technologies when organizing the endangered languages' teaching-learning process;
Consideration of possibilities of using foreign experience in the revival of the languages used to be endangered.

Within the framework of the Conference the following Seminars will be held:

- On acquaintance with the provisions of the European Charter of Regional Languages and Languages of the Minorities, due to the preparatory works for its ratification by the Russian Federation, and other international documents in the minorities and indigenous peoples' language rights protection field;
- On the usage of progressive foreign languages teaching methods when teaching the possibly endangered languages of the minorities and indigenous peoples of Russia;The discussions will result in recommendations made for the federal and regional authorities, responsible for the realization of the constitutional guarantees on preservation and development of the languages of the peoples of Russia.You are kindly asked to inform of your participation in the Conference indicating the title of presentation and forward the Registration Form/required information to the address below by 10 September 2005
:

2 Lenin Square, Petrozavodsk, 185620, Republic of Karelia, Russia
Tel./fax: (+78142) 76-46-89
E-mail: nevond@mail.ru, Ms. Evgeniya A. Shustova
The Registration Form is enclosed.
The Organizing Committee

REGISTRATION FORM:
Title, Name and Surname:
City, Country:
Organization/Affiliation, Post:
Degree, Academic Rank:
Contact Information (postal address, telephone, e-mail, fax):

Title of Presentation or Poster:Information about the participation conditions will be circulated when the Conference Programme is finally formed.


                                   




08/08/05

23rd Session of United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations
Geneva, July 18-22, 2005


Geneva, July 21 2005


The Special Rapporteur on Human Rights
and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples
Dr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen
Palais Wilson
Geneva

Forest Code; Rivers and Streams Code in the Russian Federation

Dear Dr. Stavenhagen:

We, the delegates of indigenous peoples in Russia (represented by RAIPON and LIENIP to the 23rd meeting of the UN working group on Indigenous populations), would like to inform you of the drafting of a forest code in Russia. We are very concerned about the current state of the debates on this forest code in the national Russian parliament. If the current draft were to be passed as law, we fear for the social, and also the cultural existence of many indigenous peoples in Russia. Similarly, we are deeply concerned about the rivers and streams code, which is being debated at the same time. We will not go into this code in detail in this letter, however it also urgently requires revision. Indigenous peoples are not even mentioned in the draft text.

We know that you are aware of the vital importance of the forest for social security, economic activity and practising our religion. Simply put, the forest is the home and cosmos of indigenous peoples and this applies to us in Russia too. You know as well, that the loss of the forest, be it through privatisation, commercial use for third parties, or setting up a national park, is inevitably to the complete detriment of indigenous peoples. In other words, we fear the extermination of our cultural existence (ethnocide). To make the serious situation better known, we would like to hand you over a letter with signatures from local people, attached to this letter.

We regard this foreseeable development as intolerable and as a violation of our fundamental norms of international human rights standards (e.g. the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) or the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). Furthermore, we are of the opinion that any plan regarding the use of the forest and its resources, must first and foremost consider the use by us, the indigenous peoples. After all, our very existence depends on the forest.

Within this context we would like to mention further consequences of the forest code, such as those for our brothers and sisters, the traditional reindeer breeders. Here, we also have sufficient experience to show that interference (such as usage rights, granted through licenses, leases or auctions) with the grazing grounds in the forest poses a threat to the existence of traditional, indigenous reindeer breeders. These usage rights require amounts of money, which the indigenous peoples simply do not have and which they do not need in the traditional use of the land.

At the same time, we would like to draw your attention to the institutional procedure on the forest code debate so far. There has been no consultation with us, the indigenous peoples of Russia, which are even remotely in accordance with international standards (e.g. ILO Convention 169). In the same way, the "subjects of the federation", who according to the constitution have a right to co-determination, were obviously ignored, a fact the consultative parliamentary bodies have not taken note of.

All of this leads us to draw the conclusion that the current draft of the forest code is intolerable from a human rights perspective and extremely dubious as far as procedural law is concerned. Therefore we appeal to you to help us survive and to do everything possible to:

a) call for a moratorium on the passing of both the forest and rivers and streams code in the parliament (Duma) to ensure that
b) the aspects which concern human rights violations and ethnocide are considered and debated adequately, as well as
c) the necessary consultations with us, the indigenous peoples, take place. We would also welcome state bodies pursuing a dialogue with the indigenous peoples in any future plans.

In addition, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that in many countries throughout the world where indigenous peoples live, those forests, which are traditionally part of indigenous communities enjoy special legal protection, because the existential significance of the forest for these communities is recognised. According to our history, we would like to emphasise that the best experience in using the forest has been in those areas, where the forest, irrespective of its commercial use, has remained public property.

We urgently appeal to you to act quickly, as the second reading of the draft is due to take place in September of this year.

Thank you for your attention.


Sincerely,

LIENIP RAIPON





08/08/05

23rd Session of United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations
Geneva, July 18-22, 2005


Geneva, July 21 2005


The High Commissioner on Human Rights
Mdm. Louise Arbour
Palais Wilson
Geneva

Forest Code; Rivers and Streams Code in the Russian Federation

Dear High Commissioner, Mrs. Arbour:

During the 23rd meeting of the UN working group on Indigenous populations (July 18 - 22, 2005), the delegates of indigenous peoples in Russia (represented by RAIPON and LIENIP) informed us of the drafting of a forest code in Russia. We are very concerned about the current state of the debates on this forest code in the national Russian parliament. If the current draft were to be passed as law, we fear for the social, and also the cultural existence of many indigenous peoples in Russia. Similarly, we are deeply concerned about the rivers and streams code, which is being debated at the same time. We will not go into this code in detail in this letter, however it also urgently requires revision. Indigenous peoples are not even mentioned in the draft text.

From our work with indigenous peoples, we are aware of the vital importance of the forest for social security, economic activity and practising their religion. Simply put, the forest is the home and cosmos of indigenous peoples and this applies to those in Russia too. From vast experience, we also know that the loss of the forest, be it through privatisation, commercial use for third parties, or setting up a national park, is inevitably to the complete detriment of indigenous peoples. In other words, we fear the extermination of the cultural existence of the indigenous community (ethnocide).

We regard this foreseeable development as intolerable and as a violation of the fundamental norms of international human rights standards (e.g. the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) or the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). Furthermore, we are of the opinion that any plan regarding the use of the forest and its resources, must first and foremost consider the use by indigenous peoples. After all, their very existence depends on the forest.

Within this context we would like to mention further consequences of the forest code, such as those for traditional reindeer breeders. Here, we also have sufficient experience to show that interference (such as usage rights, granted through licenses, leases or auctions) with the grazing grounds in the forest poses a threat to the existence of traditional, indigenous reindeer breeders. These usage rights require amounts of money, which the indigenous peoples simply do not have and which they do not need in the traditional use of the land.

At the same time, we are surprised at the institutional procedure on the forest code debate so far. According to the information we have received, there has been no consultation with the indigenous peoples of Russia, which are even remotely in accordance with international standards (e.g. ILO Convention 169). In the same way, the "subjects of the federation", who according to the constitution have a right to co-determination, were obviously ignored, a fact the consultative parliamentary bodies have not taken note of.

All of this leads us to draw the conclusion that the current draft of the forest code is intolerable from a human rights perspective and extremely dubious as far as procedural law is concerned. Therefore we appeal to you to do everything possible to:

a) call for a moratorium on the passing of both the forest and rivers and streams code in the parliament (Duma) to ensure that
b) the aspects which concern human rights violations and ethnocide are considered and debated adequately, as well as
c) the necessary consultations with indigenous peoples take place. We would also welcome state bodies pursuing a dialogue with the indigenous peoples in any future plans.

In addition, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that in many countries throughout the world where indigenous peoples live, those forests, which are traditionally part of indigenous communities enjoy special legal protection, because the existential significance of the forest for these communities is recognised. We would like to emphasise that the best experience in using the forest has been in those areas, where the forest, irrespective of its commercial use, has remained public property.

We urgently appeal to you to act quickly, as the second reading of the draft is due to take place in September of this year.

Thank you for your attention.


Sincerely,
(following non-governmental organisations and human rights groups participating to the 23rd session of UNWGIP)







08/08/05


23rd Session of United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations
Geneva, July 18-22, 2005


Geneva, July 21 2005


H.E.
The Ambassador of the Russian Federation
to the United Nations, Geneva
Geneva

Forest Code; Rivers and Streams Code in the Russian Federation

Your Excellency:

During the 23rd meeting of the UN working group on Indigenous populations (July 18 - 22, 2005), the delegates of indigenous peoples in Russia (represented by RAIPON and LIENIP) informed us of the drafting of a forest code in Russia. We are very concerned about the current state of the debates on this forest code in the national Russian parliament. If the current draft were to be passed as law, we fear for the social, and also the cultural existence of many indigenous peoples in Russia. Similarly, we are deeply concerned about the rivers and streams code, which is being debated at the same time. We will not go into this code in detail in this letter, however it also urgently requires revision. Indigenous peoples are not even mentioned in the draft text.

From our work with indigenous peoples, we are aware of the vital importance of the forest for social security, economic activity and practising their religion. Simply put, the forest is the home and cosmos of indigenous peoples and this applies to those in Russia too. From vast experience, we also know that the loss of the forest, be it through privatisation, commercial use for third parties, or setting up a national park, is inevitably to the complete detriment of indigenous peoples. In other words, we fear the extermination of the cultural existence of the indigenous community (ethnocide).

We regard this foreseeable development as intolerable and as a violation of the fundamental norms of international human rights standards (e.g. the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) or the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). Furthermore, we are of the opinion that any plan regarding the use of the forest and its resources, must first and foremost consider the use by indigenous peoples. After all, their very existence depends on the forest.

Within this context we would like to mention further consequences of the forest code, such as those for traditional reindeer breeders. Here, we also have sufficient experience to show that interference (such as usage rights, granted through licenses, leases or auctions) with the grazing grounds in the forest poses a threat to the existence of traditional, indigenous reindeer breeders. These usage rights require amounts of money, which the indigenous peoples simply do not have and which they do not need in the traditional use of the land.

At the same time, we are surprised at the institutional procedure on the forest code debate so far. According to the information we have received, there has been no consultation with the indigenous peoples of Russia, which are even remotely in accordance with international standards (e.g. ILO Convention 169). In the same way, the "subjects of the federation", who according to the constitution have a right to co-determination, were obviously ignored, a fact the consultative parliamentary bodies have not taken note of.

All of this leads us to draw the conclusion that the current draft of the forest code is intolerable from a human rights perspective and extremely dubious as far as procedural law is concerned. Therefore we appeal to you to make use of your diplomatic means and to pass the concerns of European Non-Governmental Organisations to your government. With your help, we would like to:

a) ask for a moratorium on the passing of both the forest and rivers and streams code in the parliament (Duma) to ensure that
b) the aspects which concern human rights violations and ethnocide are considered and debated adequately, as well as
c) the necessary consultations with indigenous peoples take place. We would also welcome state bodies pursuing a dialogue with the indigenous peoples in any future plans.

In addition, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that in many countries throughout the world where indigenous peoples live, those forests, which are traditionally part of indigenous communities enjoy special legal protection, because the existential significance of the forest for these communities is recognised. We would like to emphasise that the best experience in using the forest has been in those areas, where the forest, irrespective of its commercial use, has remained public property.

We urgently appeal to consider our concerns quickly, as the second reading of the draft is due to take place in September of this year.

Thank you for your attention and your help.


Sincerely,
(following non-governmental organisations and human rights groups participating to the 23rd session of UNWGIP)




08/08/05


Commission on Human Rights
Sub-commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Working Group on Indigenous Heritage
23rd Session
Agenda:


Statement by Nadezhda Novik of the Inter-regional public organisation "LlENIP" (Network of documentation centres for the protection of social, cultural and economic rights of the indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation)
Mr Chairman and the participants of the Working Group on Indigenous Heritage,

Mr Chairman,
Members of the Working Group, brothers and sisters,
I would like to start my statement by saying that the Government of the Russian Federation is tacitly preparing the privatisation and sale of one of the most valuable resources in our country - its forest reserves. The new Draft Forest Code proposes the withdrawal of Russia's forest resources from governmental and public ownership and their transfer to the private ownership of a small cirele of Russian and foreign citizens and companies.
The passing of the Draft Forest Code can have a tragic impact on the lives of numerically small indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation. The regulatory environment pertaining to the indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation is largely deelarative. Federal laws relating to numerically small indigenous peoples are not being observed.
By proposing to introduce the institution of private property to tracts of forests and leasing them for 99 years, the engineers of the Code, in this case the Government of the RF, are not only failing to create mechanisms for the implementation of indigenous rights, but also. obstructing, in every possible way, the protection of the living environment, and the traditional way of life and economic management of these peoples.
It is obvious that when the rights to rent tracts of forests are auctioned, neither individual representatives, nor communities of indigenous peoples will be able to participate in them on an equal footing and compete with commercial enterprises which have a much greater financial potential. Despite the fact that forest tracts are the fundamental basis for the livelihood and activities of the indigenous population, despite the fact that they do not have any other economic means of sustenance, the Draft does not make a provision for the preferential right of indigenous peoples to use tracts of forest reserves and create territories for traditional nature management.
The Draft Forest Code mentions indigenous peoples only once (Artiele 27), and the article itself is of a largely deelarative nature, and does not entitle indigenous peoples to a preferential right to forest management.


While the current Forest Code (p.107) secures the exemption of numerically small indigenous peoples from payments for the use of forest reserves for their needs, the new Draft does not make a provision for forest use by indigenous peoples and their communities for the purposes of traditional economic management free of charge. Nor does it allow indigenous peoples to create territories of traditional nature management.
Regional and village administrations and local populations are not informed about federal and regional land legislation, they do not know their basic rights and capabilities. This situation is aggravated by the fact that many rural residents still have not received their certificates and other documents confirming their right to lands that were divided amongst them after the dissolution of collective and state owned farms. There are problems between the owners of grassland and pastoral territories. There have been negative examples of regional authorities unlawfully seizing lots of land and transferring them to owners in other regions for life rent or lease. In the context of these facts, the indigenous population, which is more significantly motivated to own the lands of its traditional use, appears to be entirely without rights. It is worth noting that the procedure of land lot registration is rather costly, as it requires engaging commercial structures to start aland management file, boundary survey and cartographic work.
According to the Forest Code, if a land lot is not registered by January 1 2006, the
Government of the Administration of an entity of the Russian Federation may form lots out of unclaimed lands (and they will be regarded as such), and confirm their right of ownership in court, Le. the State will become the owner of that land lot. After this, the right to ownership must be proved only in court.
In cooperation with other human rights organisations, our organisation has submitted to the Government of the RF written requests for information- regardingihe-Forest Code currently being developed. The centre's interns have collected thousands of signatures against the Forest Code, thousands of appeals were gathered from citizens with specific requests to disallow the introduction of private property on forest reserves, publish the Forest Code officially and hold a nation-wide discussion.
Some days ago, there was an official response from State Duma, stating that according to existing protocol, the Duma CAN BUT DOES NOT HAVE TO hold a nation-wide discussion of the Forest Code. At this time, over 10,000 citizens, 5,000 of whom are indigenous representatives, have lodged a collective court claim against the unlawful actions by the Government of the RF.
Indigenous peoples, alongside other citizens, are challenging the refusal by the Government of the RF to make available the information on the RF Forest Code being developed.
The RF Constitution proclaimed the referendum to be the highest direct expression of the power of the people. The Constitution also proclaimed that lands and natural resources are used and protected in the Russian Federation as the basis for the livelihood and activities of the peoples living on those territories. And would it be possible to preserve this basis for life and activities, if lands, forests and other natural resources are sold off?
I urge the members of the Working Group to adopt a recommendation to the Government of the Russian Federation to observe the preferential rights of indigenous peoples to the use of forests and to traditional economic management in the new Forest Code, to remove time restrictions on land registration as share in land (January 1 2006), or to extend the deadline, thus giving indigenous peoples a chance to implement their lawful rights.
In one of the newsletters, there is an article by an intern of the Altai centre which is titled "Limit on forests, limit on land - limit on life". This is how the current tendencies in the development of Russian legislation look through the eyes of indigenous peoples.

Thank you all for your attention!




08/08/05


Committee for Human Rights
Subcommittee for the defence and encouragement of human rights Working group on indigenous heritage
Twenty-third session
Agenda:


Speech by Nadezhda Novik, Chair of Krasnoyarsk's "Argish" ethnic information centre
for human rights .
"LlEN/P" /nterregiona/ public organisation (Network of information centres for the protection of socia/, cu/tura/ and economic rights of indigenous peop/es of the Russian Federation)

Before beginning something good, the Keto say: "We thank Mother Nature for giving us her children: the Sun, which warms the Earth, the Moon and Stars, which lighten the hunter's way at night in the Taiga; the River, which has many fish,so humans don't go hungry; the Forest, which has many wild animals and birds. "Eta yela benia tabut!"Our doors are always open to alll"

 

Dear Mr Chairman, Dear brothers and sisters from different countries of our common home - planet Earth!


I would like particular attention to be paid to disappearing peoples in the second Oecade of
Indigenous Peoples. What can be done in this period? I have been involved in professional activities on the questions of implementing indigenous peoples' rights for about 20 years, all in all, not counting the fact that I am a native of the Siberian Taiga, was brought up in a tent and throughout my life have seen the well-being of my people, and now I am observing its
departure. On behalf of the organisation LlENIP, I am suggesting measures that would guarantee the survival of these peoples in Russia.
On the list of the Russian Government, my people are called Keto. Out of 41 indigenous peoples of Russia, there are 14 peoples whose populations vary from 8 to 1,000 people. Including the mestizos - representatives of the people from mixed marriages - there are just over 1,000 of usKeto. The absence of autonomy and special development programmes for disappearing indigenous peoples; extreme poverty and many years of irresponsible national laws that do not correspond to international human rights standards; the absence of professional representation in bodies of authority; the silence about the problems of unemployment; and the impossibility of developing traditional crafts as weil as issues of equality regarding territories of traditional use - all these factors speed up the departure of indigenous peoples.
The tragedy of the Keto people is not unique. Most of the Northern peoples in Russia are in the same situation. Indigenous leaders voice their concern for their people at meetings at all levels. But their standard of life goes down, not up. Hunters, fishermen and deer breeders in the national villages of the Far North Region (the Keto, the Selkup, the Evenki, numbering

1,500 persons) cannot accrue years of service, because during all these years of political and socio-economic reforms they have remained unemployed. Only two out of ten Keto in the village of Kellog, the Keto capital, are employed, and even then, with low wages.
It is necessary to introduce exchange programmes with other indigenous peoples of the world, in order to exchange experience in the development of local economy, resolution of social issues and preservation of spiritual heritage. This necessity will be confirmed by the NPIR project carried out by our organisation - LlENIP. It is being implemented in 3 regions of Russia - Karelia, Altai and the Krasnoyarsk Region.
What is also problematic is that not every hunter, fisherman and deer breeder is aware that that Russian laws are taking away his land, and are about to take away his forest and river. This threat comes from the current Draft Forest Code. It leaves no room for indigenous
peoples, as there is no mechanism to control forest preservation and regeneration, and no guarantees of the citizens' rights to use Russia's forests as a public asset: all of the forest is moving into private property. Peoples will be left without a forest, and that means, without traditional cultures. This is why during the Decade it is necessary that the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples intervene in this situation, so that the Forest Code does not come into force in its current reading.
To close my statement, on behalf of LlENIP, I pro pose to maximise research activities in this Decade relating to the situation of Russia's indigenous peoples, in particular, the ones who are disappearing.
May the Almighty hear the prayers of all our peoples.
Thank you, Mr Chairman! Thank you for your attention.

Nadezhda Novik

 






19/07/05

The 23-rd Session of the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples


From 18 to 23 July in Geneva 23 Session of the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples will be held. Nadezhda Nodik, the director of Krasnoyarsk mini-centre, will represent our interregional organization. The main emphasis of the reports will be put on the analysis of the progress trends of law-making prossess in the Russian Federation and situation of indigenous peoples in connection with enactment of the draft of a new Forest Code, Land and Water Codes.

19/07/05

Visit of German Journalists to Altai


From 12 to 18 June German journalists visited the Altai Republic. The main purpose of the visit was the coverage in the German mass media the project "Network for promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights of indigenous communities of the Russian Federation" being successfully implemented.
The visit of the journalists fell at the same time with external evaluation held by Diakonishes Werk Westfalen. As independent expert Dr Theodor Rathgeber was invited, who has been working for more than 20 years in the field of protecting the rights of indigenous peoples of the world and co-operating with UN.


04/06/05


Competition "The Best Ethnic Web Site"

"SibTransTelecom" company in the frames of III Siberian Festival of the World Music "The Sayan Circle" announces the competition "The Best Ethnic Web Site".

To participate in the competition we invite webmasters and owners of the sites of falk creative groups, ethnic artistic groups and performers; sites of Siberian peoples; sites of museums, galleries and exhibitions, theatres and festivals connected with ethnic thematics; sites devoted to the regional cultural and ethnographical events.

We also accept the sites containing ethnographical and cultural material showing traditions of the peoples which are not originally Siberian but from regional and creative groups made on the territory of the Siberian Federal District.

Resources containing ethnographical parts and pages are also accepted for the competition.

The competition is carried out from 1 June to 30 June 2005.
The results will be summed up from 1 July to 7 July 2005.
The winners of the competition will be rewarded on 9 July during the Gala-concert of III Siberian Festival of the World Music "The Sayan Circle".

More detailed information you can find after 3 June 2005 on www.sibttk.ru .


31/05/05

On 16-18 May an educational training seminar "Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Legislation in the Russian Federation" was held in "Katun" Recreation Center near Chemal village of the Altai Republic.

The seminar was organized by Autonomous Noncommercial Organization "Lawyers for Constitutional Rights and Liberties" (Moscow) and Altai Regional Public Organization of the Kumandin People "Istok". 35 people participated in the seminar work, among them representatives of indigenous peoples of the Altai Territory, leaders of Altai public organizations, representatives of Ongudai, Kosh-Agach, Ulagan regions administrations.

On the seminar there was analysed the active legislation guaranteeing indigenous peoples' rights of traditional life and original environment, as well as there were shown tendencies of changing the natural resources legislation from the aspect of implementation the RF citizens and indigenous peoples' rights of land and natural resources. Special attention was paid to the conformity between the standards of Russian legislation and international legislation protecting rights of indigenous peoples, that is the International Labour Organization Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples.

The participants listened to the lectures of Mikhail Brinchuk, Doctor of Law, Professor of the Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Ecological and Legal Research Centre; Olga Yakovleva, member of Moscow Regional College of Barristers, Honourary Barrister of Russia; Ivan Iutin, post-graduate student of the Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and other lecturers.

The result of the seminar is, first of all, the knowledge of our rights and ways to protect them, the desire to share the knowledge with the fellow-countrymen and together to obtain recognition of our interests. Moreover, there was made a decision to collect signs under the appeals to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, to the Government of the Russian Federation and to the State Duma with the demands to secure in the Forest Code of the Russian Federation the primary right of indigenous peoples' representatives and communities to assign to them forest plots with the aim to lead there traditional life; to secure in the Forest Code of RF mechanisms allowing to create territories of traditional use of nature and with other demands connected with the acceptance of the Forest Code.




19/02/05



International scientific - practical conference 
"Turkology as a norm of the civilized compromise between cultures"
Yakutsk, Republic Saha (Yakutia), 17-18 February, 2005


Institute for improvement of professional skills of teachers, Ministry of Education of Republic of Saha (Yakutia) and M.A.Alekseev republican school of Verkhneviluiskaya, in 17-18 February, 2005г. conducted the International scientific - practical conference on development Turkological sciences in the world "Turkology as a norm of the civilized compromise between cultures".

The objectives of conference were - expansion of a historical outlook of pupils, comprehension of a history of the Yakut people as parts of the Asian peoples - up-bringing and education of civil patriotism, dignity and pride for historical roots of people, respect for history and culture of other peoples; - inculcation in pupils skills for search and independent work on history.
More than 160 participants from Russia and abroad took part in the conference.

In the first day during plenary session a premiere of a video-film "On traces of silver vessels" about Kosh-Agachsky district of the Altai Republic was shown. Invited representatives of the Telengit and the Kazakh ethnoses of Altai: A.Z.Dzhatkambaev, Head of administration of municipal unit (MU) "Kosh-Agachsky district", I.S.Kujukov, Head of administration of MU "Ulagansky district", T.S. Dzhampilov, assistant of Head of administration of municipal unit (MU) "Kosh-Agachsky district", S.N.Ochurdiapov, main expert on indigenous small peoples of administration of MU "Kosh-Agachsky district" and Y.M. Yargakov, Head of education department of MU "Ulagansky district" have taken part in the conference work.

This event on regional level in different years was preceded with 6 forums of pupils and teachers Viljujsky district organized under the initiative of history teachers. These conferences have shown more growing interest to the historical past closely connected to ancient history of indigenous peoples of the Central Asia and Southern Siberia. The given conference was a step to formation of tolerance, representing a norm to the civilized compromise between cultures as a condition of preservation of diversity, a historical right to dissimilarity, difference; it was initiated by teachers and pupils of Verhneviljujskaya republican school.

On results and proceedings of the conference a collection of the books "Ethnos. Education. Individuality." will be issued. Additional information can be received: tel: (8-4112) 42-07-95, 42-20-69, contact person: Nikiforova Eugeny Stepanovna, E-mail: mokval@sakha.ru




09/02/05 


Meeting of Directors of regional Information Centers 


Participants consider Altai souvenirs Meeting was broadcasted at local mass media Discussing the project future While being interviewed Gulvaira Shermatova NPIR coordinator explains reporting process

 

January 23-26, 2005 in city of Gorno-Altaisk, Republic of Altai a Coordination Meeting of the directors of three Indigenous Information Centers of republics of Altai and Karelia and Krasnoyarsk region was held. Karelia regional public organization "Youth information center of Indigenous People "NEVOND", Krasnoyarsk regional "Information center of Indigenous People "Argish" (ICIP Argish), and Information Center of Indigenous People "Birlik", and a quest - president of the Keto people Association of the Turukhansk district, Krasnoyarsk region took active part in this meeting. All three centers are regional representative offices of interregional organization "Lauravetlan Information and Education Network of Indigenous People" (LIENIP), Russia. These centers have appeared thanks to implementation of the project on establishing "Network for Promotion and Protection of Social, Economic and Cultural Rights of Indigenous People in the Russian Federation" (NPIR project).

This meeting was organized for monitoring and evaluation of the project progress and presentation of annual project report of centers' work. Centers have reached all project's immediate objectives set for the last year, successfully conducted internship (educational program) in time, needed quantity of interns passed through educational program, and issued necessary quantity of information bulletins. Main obstacles of the project have been regional specifics: vast and long distance between the center - site of internship and sites of permanent residence of interns (Krasnoyarsk region), big quantity of applied interns into one group more than planned (Karelia), and not correlation of internship time with spare time of potential interns (Altai).

Main achievement of the project was that centers have increased the project effect finding extra opportunities and means for holding adjoining works and activities:
- established new partnerships with regional and local authorities,
- invited different stakeholders and interested lecturers and consultants to conduct lectures on indigenous people rights issues,
- conducted joint activities (the most prominent ones shown) on local (holiday "Village Day" and erection of the chum in Kellogue of the Krasnoyarsk region), regional (practical workshop "Vital questions of land resources management in the Ongudaisky district of the Altai Republic"), national and international (an international conference "Rights of the indigenous people: Russian and international contexts", Karelia Republic),
- moreover all centers have chosen their priority direction of work for 2005 and the future.

Following decisions and recommendations have been made:
- adjust time of holding internships (in all three centers) according to the regional needs and have internships right in the places of settlement of the indigenous communities (Krasnoyarsk region),
- achieve immediate objectives set for 2005 and the project objective for successful implementation of the NPIR project,
- increase adjoining effects of the project for sustainability of the centers work in long-term prospects,
- seek co-financing for different activities of the centers,
- take an active part in preparation of the brochure about the indigenous people of Russia, NPIR project, "Laurevetlan" (IICL & LIENIP) and regional centers in English, German and Russian by presenting articles, photographs, comments and corrections,
- seek for funds for holding a meeting with potential donors (a donors-meeting for international organizations of EU, UN and others) presenting intermediary results of the project results in August-September in Germany or Moscow, Russia for continuation of the project in the future.


Irina Solodukha, Altai center Director shows her souvenir got for her birthday Maria Amanchina, Altai shaman lady blesses the meeting participants Innokentiy Tengerekov a connoisseur of Altai history lectures on indigenous peoples of Siberia Karelia center Director Evgenia Shustova reports


09/02/05

Chaga-Bairam (Altai New Year) celebration

In the Altai Republic a celebration ceremony will be held dedicated to Chaga-Bairam (Altai New Year) which is organized by the Altai Buddhists organization "Ak-Jang" (White Faith, Altai language). Hundreds of Gorno-Altaisk citizens came to the Buddhist Dazan (temple) to participate in this holiday celebration. This holiday originated in old times, and it has been preserved and reinforced later by the Telengit peoples of the Kosh-Agach districtthe Altai people live according to the lunar calendar and February 9th new 2005 - year of rooster have come changing the leap-year. For this holiday the Altai men wear new shirts and women - new dresses or sew new buttons (tana-topchi) to old dresses. In this holiday of Chaga-Bairam the Gorno-Altaisk office of LIENIP (Information Center of Indigenous People of the Altai Republic "Birlik") has moved to new office (tel./fax: +7 (388 22) 25738, pr. Communistichesky 31-15). In this occasion our Altai office LIENIP congratulate you with Rooster year coming and wish you renovations, purposefulness, success in work and joy and happiness in life!




09/02/05 

Altai people's Kurultai to be held


In February 19th in Gorno-Altaisk the Kurultai (Highest Gathering) of the Altai people will be held, in work of which 190 delegates and about 90 quests from all aimaks (districts) of the Altai Republic will take part. Kurultai is a traditional form of self governance of the Altai people which relies on institute of the Zaisanat (Elders Council). Kurultai is also an NGO and it considers socio-economic, cultural, environmental and political issues of people's life, and also regulates interethnic relations of multinational republic. Three representatives of LIENIP are invited to the Kurultai work.


09/02/05 

Announce: Indigenous People Rights workshop 

In Kosh-Agach of the Altai Republic at February 24-25 a workshop on theme "Rights of Indigenous People to Aboriginal Habitat and Traditional Ways of Life" will be conducted which is organized by administration of municipal unit "Kosh-Agachsky district" and LIENIP. In workshop about 40 representatives of indigenous communities of the district and republic, NGOs and local authorities will participate. One of the workshop facilitators will be Olga A. Yakovleva, a jurist of the Autonomous non-commercial organization "Jurists for Constitutional Rights and Freedoms" (JURIX) from Moscow. Ms. Yakovleva is a member of the Bar (of Lawyers) of the Moscow region and she specializes in issues of the indigenous small-numbered peoples' rights. For more information and participation in the workshop please contact us via: indigenous@mail.gorny.ru

Interns of the Karelia Regional Public Organization"Youth Information Center of Indigenous People "NEVOND" and Ole Henrik Magga, Chairman of the UN Permanent Forum for Indigenous People
Anna Prakhova, Chairperson of Working Group of Indigenous Peoples in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region speaking
Press conference of the participants: Ole Henrik Magga, Anna Prakhova, Zinaida Strogalshikova, Valeriy Markov and Mikhail Guboglo.
Interns of the Karelia Regional Public Organization"Youth Information Center of Indigenous People "NEVOND" and Ole Henrik Magga, Chairman of the UN Permanent Forum for Indigenous People Anna Prakhova, Chairperson of Working Group of Indigenous Peoples in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region speaking Press conference of the participants: Ole Henrik Magga, Anna Prakhova, Zinaida Strogalshikova, Valeriy Markov and Mikhail Guboglo.



27/12/04
 

RECOMMENDATIONS

of the Participants of the International Conference «Rights of the Indigenous Peoples: Russian and the World Contexts»

The participants of the International Conference «Rights of the Indigenous Peoples: Russian and the World Contexts», held on 9-10 December 2004 in Petrozavodsk (Republic of Karelia, Russia), including the representatives of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, UN Information Centre in Moscow, Working Group of Indigenous Peoples in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region, state structures of the Russian Federation, representatives of the indigenous peoples, non-governmental organizations, and scientific community from the regions of the Russian Federation (Altai Krai, Leningrad Region, Moscow, Murmansk Region, Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Republic of Karelia, Republic of Komi, Saint-Petersburg, Tomsk Region), Hungary, Norway, Ukraine, Finland, Sweden, and Estonia,

Taking into account the conclusions and recommendations of the UN Secretary-General on the preliminary review by the Coordinator of the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People on the activities of the UN system in relation to the Decade (E/2004/82), as well as the Report of the Secretary-General on the Information concerning indigenous issues requested by the Economic and Social Council and received from Governments, non-governmental organizations and indigenous peoples’ organizations, as well as from the UN system (Е/2004/85), as well as Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, Mr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen (А/59/258),

Noting that the International Decade contributed to the increase of informational awareness of the world community about the status of and the situation the indigenous peoples of the world are in, strengthening of international co-operation for solving the problems faced by indigenous peoples in such areas as human rights, environment, development, health, culture, and education,

Noting the importance of establishing – within the context of the Decade – of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, of the introduction of the position of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples,

Supporting the proposal of proclaiming the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People,

Welcoming the resolution of the Barents Euro-Arctic Regional Council declaring the year 2005 «The Indigenous Peoples’ Year in the Barents Co-operation» under the motto «Learning by Cooperating», initiated by the indigenous peoples in the Barents Region,

Expressing concern that consensus between the representatives of the indigenous peoples and the governments on the text of the UN Declaration on the rights of the indigenous peoples was not achieved,

Regretfully noting weak national legislative base in many countries, regulating relations of indigenous peoples with the state, still existing gap between decisions made and their implementation, absence or limited political representation of indigenous peoples in the local, regional and national authorities, and the liquidation process of local self-governing and autonomies of indigenous peoples as independent administrative and territorial units/formations, which has started in a number of countries,

Noting that while preparing and holding the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People, proclaimed by the UN (1994-2004), the Governments of not all countries had a consistent policy towards achieving the real partnership with indigenous peoples when implementing the goals and tasks of the International Decade,

Alarmingly pointing out that indigenous peoples in many countries continue to be among the poorest strata of population, have a limited access to natural resources on the territories of their traditional living and are deprived of the right to influence the decision-making process, affecting their interests,

Regretting the insufficiency of the financial provision of the events and activities of the Decade both at the international and national levels, in accordance with its goals and tasks,

Recommend:

  1. Governments of all countries, at the national level, to complete the analysis of the activities’ results of the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People, considering the opinions of the interested parties – indigenous peoples, non-governmental organizations, scientific community, independent experts.
  2. Governments of all countries, using the mass media, to bring to the broad circle of public community the results of their activities on implementation of the goals and tasks of the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People.
  3. The UN, other international organizations, governments of all countries when preparing and implementing the Programme of Action and specific projects of the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples to aim at and try to attain the establishment of real partnership with indigenous peoples, considering to a higher degree the initiatives of the indigenous peoples asserting their rights and the focus on the solidarity of the peoples.
  4. The UN, other international organizations, governments of all countries to treat the indigenous peoples’ rights movement and the solidarity of the peoples as an important factor of achieving peace, consent and political stability, especially in the countries with poly-ethnic composition of the population and cultural diversity.
  5. Governments of all countries to ensure having intermediate, not less than once two years, results on realization of the Programme of Action and specific projects of the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, with participation of indigenous peoples and independent experts.
  6. Governments of all countries, taking into account the opinion and interests of the indigenous peoples, to aim at and try to attain a more precise definition of the circle of beneficiaries (subjects) pf the Second International Decade, legislation formation, regulating the relations between indigenous peoples and the state organs, considering the progress achieved at international and national levels.
  7. The UN, other international organizations, governments of all countries, in accordance with the goals and tasks of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), to undertake concrete actions on improving the situation the indigenous peoples are in, especially paying attention to ensuring the access to the natural resources on the territories of their traditional living and their usage as the major cause of elimination of the poverty of indigenous peoples.
  8. The UN, other international organizations, governments of all countries to pay special attention to close co-operation with indigenous youth to increase the indigenous youth’s awareness of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, involvement of indigenous youth in the activities of the UN institutions, programmes, and funds/foundations, other international organizations.
  9. Governments of all countries, bearing in mind that the right for local self-governing is part of fundamental freedoms, recognized in the international law being applicable to all the peoples, to undertake measures to create and restore the units of local/regional self-government and autonomies of indigenous peoples as independent administrative and territorial units/formations, taking into consideration the will of indigenous peoples.
  10. The UN, other international organizations, national and regional authorities to further establishing and activities of informational and legal centres of indigenous peoples, which inform the indigenous peoples about national and international legislation on human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, carry out activities protecting these rights and freedoms, including via the information exchange with the organs of the UN on the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples and corresponding organs and organizations at the regional and national levels.
  11. Governments of the countries – participants and authorities of the regions – participants of the Barents Co-operation promote successful implementation of the events and activities of the year 2005 – «The Indigenous Peoples’ Year in the Barents Co-operation».

 

 The unofficial translation of the Recommendations into English by Mr. Roman G. Mikhalyuk.
Revised by Mr. Chagat Almashev, Project manager of LIENIP specially for www.indigenous.ru

 


10/12/04

Statement by Gulvaira Shermatova,
NPIR project coordinator
At the international conference
"Rights of the Indigenous people: Russian and world-wide contexts"
Petrozavodsk, Karelia, December 9-10, 2004

Creation of Information Centers as Mechanisms for Protection and Promotion of Rights of In-digenous Peoples (in a sample of the NPIR project)

Dear participants of the conference,
Dear guests and attendants,
Dear brothers and sisters,

First of all, let me thank you all organizers for this conference which is a linking step toward development of rights of indigenous peoples, human rights, development of democracy and strengthening of civil society in our country.

I would like to begin my statement telling you a story of creation of our interregional network organi-zation "Lauravetlan Information and Education Network of Indigenous People" (LIENIP) and about im-plemented by our NGO project on protection and promotion of rights of indigenous peoples in the Russian Federation.


Industrial development of Oil, Natural Gas, timber, gold and others are all taking place on traditional territories of these indigenous peoples. They are loosing most of their traditional lands and waters, their ways of life and being more and more marginalized. The collapse of the old governmental support struc-tures made them virtually without any possibilities of contact with the outside world.
The idea of creating some kind of a mechanism that would connect indigenous communities with each other and with the world at large had been discussed at many formal and informal gatherings of indigenous peoples of Russia.


The UN Decade of Indigenous Peoples finally helped creating Indigenous Information Center. The project idea to establish an indigenous information center in Moscow was one of the proposals of the indigenous peoples of Russian Federation given during the UN-sponsored "International Consultation on the Situation of Indigenous peoples of the Arctic and Siberia" (September 6-10, 1993. Khabarovsk, RF). It has been taken into the report of the UN Commission on Human Rights as recommendation #68 and 69: "Indigenous peoples need access to information at all levels. This includes information on legislation and other matters inside the country and on developments in other countries and in international organizations... ". It was recommended that "a national information center on indigenous issues be established."


L'auravetl'an (self-name of Chukchi indigenous people) Indigenous Information Center (IIC) was founded by Oleg Egorov, representative of Chukchi Council of Elders - therefore "L'auravetl'an". The idea came as result of the dire situations of indigenous peoples of Russian Federation. While living on huge territory (65% of entire Russia), 30 indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East are divided by huge geographical distances.


In 2003 IIC "Lauravetlan" established Interregional Association "Lauravetlan Information and Educa-tion Network of Indigenous People" (short title LIENIP) which includes Indigenous NGOs of four Russian regions: of the Altai and the Karelia Republics, the Altaisky and the Krasniyarsk krais (territories). LIENIP has been established within the framework of implementation of the project on creation "Network for Promotion and Protection of the Social, Economic and Cultural Rights of the Indigenous People of the Russian Federation" (short title - NPIR project).


Management of the NPIR project is based in the Altai region. The main objective of the project is creation of the Indigenous Information Centers in regions of the compact settlements of the Indigenous peoples of Russia: the Altai, the Kumandin, the Tubalar, the Telengits, the Chelkans, the Shors, the Veps, the Ketos, the Dolgans and the Evenkis. Indigenous Information Centers, main stakeholders of LIENIP, are successfully functioning in Gorno-Altaisk of the Altai Republic, Petrozavodsk of the Karelia Republic and in Krasnoyarsk of the Krasnoyarsk krai. For more information on LIENIP and the project please refer to the "Projects" column.
Initiative of Lauravetlan on creation of IIC was supported by Sami Council and magazine "Severnye Prostory". The both organizations became partners in the Center. Since 1996 Lauravetlan has been fi-nanced in part by TACIS Democracy Program, the Canadian government and the foundation of the Dia-konisches Werk der EKD, Germany. Starting from 2003 Lauravetlan has been extending its network within Russian regions uniting more Indigenous organizations which become members of LIENIP.


From 1996 through 2002 144 interns went through the Center.


LIENIP is aiming to improve the abilities of indigenous communities to fully participate in Russian multicultural society and diminish discrimination of indigenous people. LIENIP provides a mechanism to indigenous communities of Russia (however remote and isolated they might be) to speak to the outside world and to each other in their own voices.
That objective is achieved in the following ways:
1. Indigenous interns, selected by their own communities for 1,5 month's internship in regional Cen-ters, get to know about indigenous rights and Human Rights on a national and international level (e.g. international documents and legal standards, provided by intergovernmental and NGOs) and learn de-mocratic and human rights instruments. This knowledge is transferred by them back to their communities where it can be used in every day life;
2. At the Centers the interns from different isolated communities get to know each other and estab-lish working contacts for the future. This will help indigenous communities to increase their cooperation in order to assist and support each other. Plus it will help them to understand their situation in a more national and global context. As the result there is a multiplying effect on the communities;
3. The interns also provide invaluable information about their own culture, societies, their regions, and their problems and human rights violations to the Russian federal authorities and public and the In-ternational Community. That knowledge is the first step to create bonds of mutual understanding which will: diminish conflict potential; help multicultural cooperation within Russian society; enable them to be-come functional participants in the democracy building process; break the isolation of the indigenous communities and will therefore contribute to their ability to protect their rights, educate the rest of the world about indigenous peoples of the Russian North, Siberia and Far East. Through the above the in-terns not only had gained valuable information and knowledge. They also established direct contacts with people important in law, politics and administration of Russia. Very often these contacts can be in-strumental in affecting the life of a person or an entire community.


The bulletins are prepared by the interns of each group (1 bulletins per group). Each bulletin in aver-age is about 10 pages in Russian version, and about 5 pages in English version. The articles are written by the interns and by their contacts in the home communities each of them comes from. The text is never edited or changed by the Center in order to ensure trust from people who are not used to writing. The mailing list in Russian is about 300 recipients and in English about 50.


The grassroots leadership of their communities and peoples selects the interns. That will ensure the fair participation for any and all indigenous peoples of Russia. The selection is entirely up to the grass-roots leadership and is oriented according to local needs.
Study of Russian and International legal documents on democracy building, civil society and Indige-nous peoples (daily);Work-shops (weekly), seminars and conferences on Human Rights and social and economic issues related to Indigenous peoples; Study of federal ministries, committees and other gov-ernmental bodies relevant to Indigenous peoples; Study of mass-media and its coverage of Indigenous peoples; Participation at working sessions of the Court Chamber of R.F. on Informational Disputes; Es-tablishing working contacts with relevant NGOs; Practical study and establishing contacts with members and committees of Federal Parliament; Information gathering from the local communities on social, po-litical and economic situations of Indigenous peoples in the regions; Gathering and disbursement of rele-vant international information; Creation of a data bank on Indigenous peoples of Russian North, Siberia and Far East;


Publishing information bulletins on indigenous peoples of Russia (in Russian and English). Mailing it through out the Russian Indigenous communities and NGOs, Federal Ministries, members of the Federal Parliament and to international organizations.
At the end of each 1,5 months period an evaluation of the work is done together with the interns. The involvement of the interns in this process is considered to be the most important since they, with their new experiences, provide a source of possible improvements of the Centers for the new groups. Through interns also ideas and proposals of the respective indigenous communities help to develop work of the Centers towards its best possibilities to serve the local needs.


Not easy task to deal with people especially with their vital problems. Therefore we concentrate our work on human recourses development and human capacities building on level of indigenous com-munities through organization and holding internship on human rights issues, various information-educational programs and activities (consultations workshops conferences on different themes). We also assist our interns to implement in practice their project and initiatives which they have developed during their internship in the Information centers. We emphasize on work with the youth. We also teach young specialists to be involved in the environmental conservation projects of international organizations (in Altai region: in projects of UNDP, WWF, GTZ and others). Thank to this information work six repre-sentatives of indigenous communities participate in "Altai Assistance Project" and have been brief interns on theme "Establishing and functioning of the Nature Protected Areas" in the USA, November 2004.


Fact of recognition of our work in regions is that we are invited to participate in different prominent activities, regional legislative and executive authorities jointly participate in thematic consultation process for our interns. For instance, in the Altai Republic, after being our interns three young specialists were appointed for high position works on district level: in the Kosh-Agach and Ulagan district new job posi-tions of specialists on indigenous people issues, which had not existed in administration composition be-fore, were specially created, and our ex-interns were appointed for those positions. In the Turochak dis-trict our center intern was elected for public and significant position of the Aimak-Bashchi (Chairperson) of all indigenous peoples of this district.


As one more practical example I want to share with you a success story in which our of Informa-tion Center of Indigenous People of the Altai Republic's (ICIPAR) interns were involved on protection their rights to traditional land which was illegally transferred by regional and district authorities to a commercial organization without a permission of indigenous communities of Altai. For your information: ICIPAR has been established within the NPIR project.


On the coast of one of the beautiful of the Altai Mountains and Siberia - of the Teletzkoye Lake there is a small territory comprising 286 thousand hectars, on which representatives of indigenous small-numbered peoples: the Tubalars, Kumandins and Chelkans hold their national holidays. Due to rapid tourism development on the coasts of the Teletzkoye, or as we call it the Golden Lake as well all thw coast lines of sacred to all indigenous people the Katun river are precious and desired locations for dif-ferent kind entrepreneurs in sphere of tourism from industrial regions (Altaisky krai, Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Kemerovo oblast and Moscow). In 2002 namelly this territory used to be an aerodrome for helicopters was given for rent to an organization "Tomsktranzgas "RAO Gasprom"" and after to its affiliated daughter organization JSC "Sibtrubvodstroi" to construct a tourist base. This deal was done without agreement of indigenous communities of Altai, at that time of this transaction deal (2002) federal laws on indigenous rights had already been adopted ("On guarantees of rights of indigenous small numbered peoples of the Russian Federation" dated April 30, 1999, "On general principles of organization of communities of in-digenous small numbered peoples of the North, Siberia and Far East of the Russian Federation" dated July 06, 2000 and "Territories of traditional landuse of indigenous small numbered peoples of the North, Siberia and Far East of the Russian Federation" dated April 04, 2001).


Though there were protests of the indigenous communities against of this deal the district ad-ministration demonstratively ignored their rights. The matter is that these portion of land named under "helicopter square" is an only possible site for holding national celebrations of indigenous peoples of the district and real estate complex situated on the surface of this land in 2003 had been given for perma-nent use to indigenous community "Altyn Kol" of Artybash village, Turochak district of Altai. Crucial mo-ment was 2003 and 2004 years when indigenous community "Altyn Kol" initiated and sued to the Arbi-trage Court of the Altai Republic on a case of illegal deal with "helicopter square". District administration dismayed its previous acts on rent transfer to JSC "Sibtrubvodstroi" when lawyers of the Altai Republic's Government recognized this deal as illegal thus keeping distance from this "scandalous transaction".
In 2004 two Arbitrage court meetings on the case were hold but all without good results. On the court in quality of witness and sue our interns of ICIPAR participated. In June of this year in city of Gorno-Altaisk, Altai Republic, there were the following third court meeting was hold. Arguments of repre-sentatives of JSC "Sibtrubvodstroi" were so weak and not justified that finally they accused the court chairman in being bias against them and they used as tool physiological pressure suing side (community Altyn Kol representatives). For the fact of this pressure one of the main representative of suing side, Chairparon N. Averina was absent at the court though she were infirmed and a car was sent to bring her to the court. Nethertheless interns of ICIPAR had list of attorney from the suing community, which dates were actual. So our center inters, Liudmila Kydatova and Galina Sapkina made their statements at the court meeting representing that community, they used in practice their knowledge obtained during their internship and made court people to accept this deal as illegal. This victory is a first and optimistic precedent in Altai when indigenous communities legally protect their rights and win at the court.


This victory inspires all indigenous communities to protect their rights to lands of cultural and socio-economic importance. Though situation with lands were traditional style of life and traditional lan-duse (gathering, hunting and fishing) are practiced is not very optimistic. Different actions are undertaken by circles and organizations of hunters and fishermen to take traditional lands for rent from indigenous people trying to deceive or promising them benefits without any agreement documents. Our interns united into so-called initiative groups (e.g. in the Turochak district) work with local population informing them on their rights and opportunities. This work is done in order to protect illegal transfer of traditional lands and elimination of cases of transfer without any contracting and agreement documents. Different interns are united into one information network which which means they keep in contact with each other. This has become possible thank to NPIR project, the first in Russia - indigenous people network organi-zation, which gives a real and practical opportunity to indigenous communities and NGOs to obtain knowledge, which allow them be direct and effective partners to state authorities of all levels in work for conditions creation of respectful life for all citizens no matter of what ethnic background these citizens are.

On this optimistic note I would like to finish my statement and thank you kindly for your attention and wish you success in protection your rights to lead traditional way of life on your traditional lands!

Gulvaira Shermatova,

Coordinator of a project on creation Network
for protection and promotion of rights of
indigenous people in Russia (NPIR project)

 
Announce: International Conference "Rights of the Indigenous people: Russian and world-wide contexts", Petrozavodsk, Karelia, Russia, December 9-10, 2004.

It is expected that following representatives will participate in the conference: the state government of Russian Federation, the Commissioner over the human rights of Russian Federation, Ole Henrick Magga, Chairman of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Elizabeth Stamatopoulou, Chief of the Secretariat of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Strogalshikova Zinaida Ivanovna, Member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Gorelik Aleksandr Semyonovich, Director of the UN Information Center, Moscow, representatives of organizations: Society of Ingrians Finns "Inkeri Liitto ", the Saami Parliament, Barents Euro-Arctic region and other non-profit and scientific organizations.

We are pleased to announce that the conference co-organizer is the LIENIP's member-organization - Karelia Regional Public Organization"Youth Information Center of Indigenous People "NEVOND" and Gulvaira Shermatova, NPIR project coordinator and Evgenia Shustova, Director of "NEVOND" will take part in the conference work.

Program of the conference (Eng. text presented by organizers)

Federal Agency over Culture and Cinematography
Ministry of Culture and Public Affairs of Republic of Karelia
State Committee over the National Policy of Republic of Karelia
Legislative Assembly of Republic of Karelia
Republican Center of National cultures
Veps Culture Society
Karelia Regional Public Organization"Youth Information Center of Indigenous People "NEVOND"
The Union of Karelian People
Ingrian Society of Karelian Finns

International Conference
"Rights of the Indigenous people: Russian and world-wide contexts"



9th-10th December

Petrozavodsk

9th December, Thursday

 

8.00. - 9.00

Breakfast, cafe "Gostinyi Dvor", Karl Marks Avenue, 22

8.30. - 9.30

Registration, National Theatre, Karl Marks Avenue, 22

9.30.

Opening of the Conference.

9.30 . 9.45.

Greetings and speeches:
Representatives of state and local government of Republic Karelia. Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of Republic Karelia Levin Nikolai Ivanovich, Minister of culture and public affairs of Republic Karelia Brun Galina Toivovna, Chairman of the State Committee over the national policy of Republic of Karelia Shorohov Evgeny Akimovich

9.45. - 9.50.

Representative of the state government of Russian Federation. Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma-Pivnenko Valentina Nikolaevna

9.50. -9.55.

Greeting from the Commissioner over the human rights of Russian Federation, Nоyanova Olga Evgenyevna, Advisor of the Department of collaboration with intergovernmental organs over the protection of human rights.

9.55. - 10.05.

Greeting and speech of the representative of the Constant Forum U.N.O. over the question of indigenous people. Ole Henrick Magga, Chairman of the Constant Forum of the U.N.O. over the question of indigenous people

10.05. - 10.10.

Greeting from the Chief of the Secretariat of Constant Forum of the U.N.O. Elizabeth Stamatopulu

10.10. - 10.20.

Greeting and speech of the Administration of Saam's Parliamentary Council. Eva Jejlid, member of the Saam's Paliament

10.20. - 10.35.

"International decade of the indigenous people in Russian Federation (objectives, solutions, results)".
Strogalshikova Zinaida Ivanovna, Member of the Constant Forum of the U.N.O., Chairman of the Karelian Regional Social Organization "Society of Veps culture", candidate of historical science

10.35. - 10.50.

"Rights of the indigenous people - ideals and reality". Kiryanen Aleksandr Ivanovich, Society of Ingrians Finns "Inkeri Liitto ", Nation-cultural autonomy of Finns-Ingrians of Saint-Petersburg, Professor of Saint-Petersburg State University

10.50. - 11.00.

Presentation of the encyclopedia. Golubchikova Valentina Davidovna, editor-in-chief of "Northern expanses"

11.00. - 11.20.

Break

11.20. - 11.35.

"Rights and solidarity of people" , Guboglo Mihail Nikolaevich, deputy director of Institute of ethnology and anthropology of Russian Academy of Science, Doctor of historical science.

11.35. - 11.50.

"Summons of collaboration and its influence on indigenous people of Barents region " , Prahova Anna Dmitrievna, Barents Euro-Arctic region, Chairman of workgroup over indigenous people.

11.50. - 12.10.

Pustai Yanosh, head of the faculty of Journalistic of Berzheni Sombathei Pedagogical Institute, professor.

12.10. - 12.20

"National minorities of Russia in mass-media of Finland and finnish supporting program of Finno-Ugrian people of Russia". Airi Leppanen, editor of state radio YLE

12.20. - 12.35.

"The potential of regional agreements between Commonwealth of Independent States and Europe Council in the field of protection rights of the national minorities ". Denisov Dmitryi, University of Tartu, undergraduate

12.35. - 12.45.

"Centre for Saami Studies". Per Klemetsen H?tta, Centre for Saami Studies, University of Tromso, Norway.

13.00. - 14.00.

Lunch, cafe "Gostinyi Dvor", Karl Marks Avenue, 22

14.00. - 14.15.

"Resources of regional legislation in the field of rights of indigenous people by the example of Republic Komi" Markov Valeryi Petrovich, Chairman of the Consultative Committee of Finn-Ugrian people, candidate of science.

14.15. - 14.25.

" Maintenance of human rights in Republic of Karelia" Varlamova Svetlana Ivanovna,Comission over the human rights under Government of Republic of Karelia, Lecturer of Law.

14.25. - 14.40.

"A Decade of Indigenous people. Self-consciousness of Russian Saams ". Afanasyeva Nina Eliseevna, President of Association of Kola Saams

14.40. - 14.55.

"Protection of Baltic-Finnish languages in Karelia: right and practice". Klementyev Evgenyi Ivanovich, research officer of Institute of language, literature and history of Karelian Scientific Center of Russian Science Academy, expert of ethnic monitoring network and early prevention of conflicts, candidate of historical science.

14.55. - 15.10.

"Realization of right to study native language for indigenous people in Republic Komi ", Konuhov Aleksey Kimovich, Chairman of executive committee of Congress of Komi people, candidate of science

15.10. - 15.25.

"Perspectives of usage of modern models of multilingual education in Russian conditions", Yuzykainen Erik Alekseyevich, head of the International relations department of Ministry of culture,press and over the nationality business of Republic Mari El, trustee of Social organization "Maryi tunyktysho" (Mari's teacher)

15.25. - 15.35.

"Librarian information resources on the Karelian,Veps,Finnish languages- as one of the guarantee of realization rights of indigenous people of Karelia", Zasekova Inna Ivanovna, State library of Republic of Karelia, Employee of national and local lore literature department.

15.35. - 15.50.

"Problems of access to information and multi-cultures". Gorelik Aleksandr Semyonovich, Documentation Center of U.N.O, Moscow, Director

15.50. - 16.05.

"Office of Indigenous people of Barents region-international office in the collaboration network of indigenous people". Mihailuk Roman Grigorievich, "Office of Indigenous people of Barents region",Chief

16.05. - 16.20.

"Creation of the informational and lawful centers as mechanisms for promotion and protection of rights of indigenous people in Russian Federation" (by the example NPIR of -project). Shermatova Gulvaira Kudenovna, NPIR, co-ordinator

17.00. - 18.00.

Supper, cafe "Gostinyi Dvor", Karl Marks Avenue, 22

19.00.

Gala concert "National Palette of Karelia ". National Theater, Karl Marks Avenue. 22

21.30.

Festive dinner, Tourist complex "Karelia"

 
 
10th December, Friday

8.00. - 9.00.

Breakfast, cafe "Gostinyi Dvor", Karl Marks Avenue,22

9.30-11.30

Discussion and acceptation of Conference recommendations. Great Hall of Legislative Assembly of Republic of Karelia, Kuibysheva 5

11.30-12.00

Press-conference

12.00-13.00

Lunch, cafe "Gostinyi Dvor", Karl Marks Avenue,22

14.00

Departure of participants

 

 

07/12/04


Altai in International Mountain Partnership

In the Altai Republic a working group on Mountain issues under the Republic Government will be established. This decision is made after the second meeting and conference International Partnership for Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions (Mountain Partnership), which was hold in Cuzco, Peru, at October 28-29 2004. Russia officially is not participating in this partnership, for and behalf of Russia the Altai Republic is a representing member in the partnership. In conference work Nikolai M. Taitakov, the First Deputy Chairman of the Altai Republic's Government took part. Mountain Partnership created in 2002 by the Government of Kyrgyzstan, FAO UN and Center for Development and Environment (CDE), Switzerland consists of more than 30 mountain countries of the world and 15 intergovernmental and donor organizations (bodies and agencies of UN, Asian Development Bank, African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) and others) and 22 Major Groups (environmental NGOs and scientific organizations). Main idea of the partnership is to draw attention of the world community to development problems of the mountain regions and countries, which concentrates more than 70% of water, mineral, biological resources and rich with natural, ethno cultural and historical heritage and to implement end-to-end solution of the mountain problems with assistance of international donor organizations. Mountain issues were also a topic of a meeting of representatives of Government, scientific institutions and NGOs of the Altai Republic hold at December 6, 2004. In this extent an international "Altai Assistance Project" in cooperation with The Mountain Institute (TMI), Mountain Partnership member, has been launched in the Altai Republic of Russia in 2004.

 

 
17/11/04
 
 
On November, 17-25 2004 in Bangkok World Concervation Congress will take place. 
 
More than 5000 participants from more than 160 countries of the world will take part in its work. LIENIP will be represented on the Congress by Chairman of Altai 
Regional Public Organization of the Kumandin People "Istok" Kamila Shermatova.
 
 
 
11/11/04 
 
 
In Krasnoyarsk International Scientific-Practical Conference "Indigenous Peoples" started
 
 
On November, 11-13, 2004 in Krasnoyarsk International Scientific-Practical Conference "Indigenous Peoples of Siberia. Past. Present. 
Future" started. The Conference was devoted to 100th anniversary of Boris Dolgikh's birth, 70th anniversary of Krasnoyarsk Kray 
and to the International Decade of Indigenous Peoples of the World. The organizers were Department of Culture of Krasnoyarsk Kray 
Administration, Krasnoyarsk Museum of Local History, Aberdeen University (Great Britain), Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University, 
Ethnological and Anthropological Institute of Russian Academy of Science, Archeological and Ethnographical Institute of Siberian 
Department of Russian Academy of Science.

Scientists from 14 regions of Russia, scientific centers of Great Britain and France prepared more than 40 reports on scientific ideas, researches of B. Dolgikh about Siberian peoples, on historical and cultural heritage of North and Siberian peoples, on ways of solving problems of their development today and in the future.

Director of "Argish" Center N. Novik spoke out on "Indigenous Peoples of Yenisei North and Main Problems of Their Development in the Modern World". The information and the ideas of the report as well as nowaday adapting experience of the indigenous peoples themselves (e.g. situation of aboriginal peoples of the region, results of the Center's work on the NPIR project) attracted attention of some well known Russian and foreign scientists such as Yu. Moskvich, Professor, Head of Strategic Prognosis and Development Programs Center of Krasnoyarsk Pedagogical University; David George Anderson, Ph.D., Antropological Department of Aberdeen University (Scotland, GB); Boris Shishlo, Ethnology Doctor of National Research Center (Sorbonne, France), etc. Exchange of opinions was concluded with agreement about further colaboration.

Participants of the Conference fairly pointed out the absence of information about real situation of aboriginal peoples, which was also noted by President of Russia V. Putin, Governor of Krasnoyarsk Kray A. Khloponin. This gap can be filled by representing indigenous peoples in the Kray Authority, according to the laws. During the Conference Indigenous Information Center "Argish" has established perspective connections with some mass media representatives: Afanasiy Shadrin, contemporary and follower of B. Dolgikh, the oldest employee of 'Krasnoyarsky Rabochy' newspaper, and now the Head of Minusinsk Club 'Krayeved' ("Researcher of local history"); Valentina Varaksina, special correspondent of Regional State TV and Radio Company 'Vesti Nedeli. Krasnoyarsk' ("News of the Week") and Konstantin Karpukhin from 'Segodnyashnaya Gazeta'("Today's Newspaper").

During discussions N. Novik offered a motto for the Conference "Unite, scientists and indigenous peoples!", which corresponds to the program of Decade of Indigenous Peoples of the World "Partnership in Action". Four points of resolution project include almost all the suggestions of "Argish" Center made by 24 interns from indigenous peoples of Krasnoyarsk Kray for the period of their study since March to August 2004 on the program "Human Rights. Indigenous Peoples Rights" and recorded in four final bulletins of the groups. Modern indigenous people understand how archaic their living is, realize the slogan "He falls who stops" and move towards the common educational field. Intelligentsia of indigenous peoples of Krasnoyarsk Kray praiseworthy carries out its mission as provider of interests of their peoples to authority, business, science, mass media, public organizations of the region.

For details visit web-site of Krasnoyarsk Museum of Local History:
http://www.kkkm.ru
E-mail:
museum@kkkm.ru


On November, 12, 2004 in Krasnoyarsk Museum of Literature some interns of "Argish" Center took part in 65th jubilee of Alitet Nemtushkin, the only Master of Word about North peoples. This event is remarkable by the fact that the Evenk writer and poet could once again astonish the audience joining people of different nationalities, ages, statuses, talents and abilities - Siberian people. On that day a new brotherhood was born. Alitet Nemtushkin said, "You gave me a big advance for the future. I will try to come up to your expectations".

Vadim Ryazantsev

 
 
 
03/11/04

News from Indigenous Peoples Information Center of Altai Republic, LIENIP organization

ANNOUNCEMENTS


Questions of land-tenure in Ongudai Region of Altai Republic

On November, 4-5, 2004 there was a practical seminar "Actual Questions of Land Relations Control in Ongudai Region of Altai Republic". The main aim was to inform the leaders of regional and villages' administrations about the procedure of registration of different plots (for rent, on shares, for a fixed/nonfixed period of use). The seminar was organized and carried out by Administration of Municipal Education "Ongudai Region" with financial support of "Lauravetlan Information and Education Network of Indigenous Peoples" (LIENIP). Representatives of the Government, Estate Ministry, Agricultural Ministry, State Land Committee of Altai Republic, regional Deputies Council, Heads of villages administrations, former LIENIP interns took part at the seminar's work.
Information source: LIENIP

Parliamentary audition on North territories developement

According to the decision of the State Duma in Moscow within the framework of scientific practical conference on November, 10-11 2004, Parliamentary audition of the State Counsil "Social Development of North Regions: experience, problems and prospects" will take place. During the conference and the audition it is supposed to discuss the prior problems of social development of Russian North territories taking into consideration the results of the State Council Presidium meeting (Salekhard, April, 2004), to work out practical mechanisms for improving living standards of Russian North regions inhabitants.

At the plenary meeting it is planned to listen to reports of the Leaders of federal authorities, territories of Russian Federation, North territories local authorities, leading Russian companies, voluntary organizations, reports of scientists and specialists in social development of North territories. On November, 11 the meeting of sections on different subject will take place. The participants from Altai Republic will be A. Kuterin - Assistant of the Minister of Economical Development, Trade and Enterprise of Altai Republic, I. Lozovaya - the Counsellor of the Plenipotentiary of Altai Republic in Moscow and T. Kaliantagraoo - representative of "Lauravetlan Information and Education Network of Indigenous Peoples" in Moscow.

For more details contact telephone: +7 095 292 58 90, +7 095 292 97 83.
Information from the conference organizing commitee:
www.ksocpol.rags.ru

Source of information: Election of Representatives of Altai Republic in Moscow

Nikolay Tengerekov, information manager of the Indigenous Peoples Infromation Center of Altai Republic

 
 
 
18/10/04

News from Indigenous Peoples Information Center of Altai Republic, LIENIP Organization

Telengits Kurultai and 140th anniversary of joining Telengits to Russia

On October, 15-16 in Kosh-Agach village of Altai Republic there was Kurultai (the High Assembly) of Telengits (a small indigenous people) of Altai. Population census of Russia in 2002 revealed 3000 Telengits in Altai Republic. From the earliest times Telengits have lived in Kosh-Agach and Ulagan Regions, the deepest and high mountain areas of Altai close to borders with Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China. According to Innokenty Tengerekov's data the modern Altai population had in the past their own state, documents, written language, and the state was called Telengits' Khanate, with dimensions and capacities that could compete with Dzungaria Khanate. The territory of the Khanate covered Altai republic, Altaisky Kray, part of Novosibirsk Region, Kemerovo Region and boundary territories. For details about Telengits Khanate read Bulletine #4 of Indeginous Peoples Information Center of Altai Republic on www.indigenous.ru .

The main places where Telengits have lived are high mountain regions of Ulagan and Kosh-Agach along river Chuya, the river revered by all Altai peoples as a sacred place and called "Eree-Chui" (Sacred Chuya). There are vast steppes, high sacred mountains and valleys, healing springs, tumuluses, stone "kezers" and petroglyphs. Ancient customs and traditions of Altai people are saved on these two territories: Kosh-Agach was the crossing of cultures and traditions of different peoples, one of the North routes of "Silk Way". The followers of local ancient religions find the rich source of old knowledge from the local connoisseurs and healers, adepts find "living statues" of buddhistic Gods. Thanks to Telengits the tradition to celebrate Altai New Year "Chaga Bairam" was revived. This is the place where tumuluses with archeological values of ancient "Pazyryc" culture were found, the artefacts of which are kept at the Hermitage, and there was a mummy of Altai Princess on Ukok Plateau. Besides rich cultural heritage Telengits are noted for their hospitality and kindness.

More than 100 participants took part in Telengits Kurultai, representatives of Altai Republic Government, El-Kurultai State Assembly of Altai Republic, leaders of municipal administrations "Kosh-Agach Region" and "Ulagan Region", Telengits communities, Associations of Indigenous People of Telengits "Agaru-Chui" and "Eree-Chui", Organizations for developing Telengits culture of Ulagan Region "Altai-Telengit", former interns of Indigenous Peoples Information Center of Altai Republic.

The following issues were included in the agenda of the meeting: social and economical conditions of Telengits and developing programs including the problems of the results of the earthquake in 2003, problems and prospects of development of Telengit people, unification of communities and associations of two regions in a single association and election of the leading staff, prospects of development of the organization, and celebration of 140th anniversary of joining Telengits to Russia.

Kurultai had constructive atmosphere, participants were active in speaking out on current social and economical problems. At first the Association will be independent social community - Republican Association of Telengits which will not compose the Indigenous Peoples Association of Altai Republic, and further it will work out their own constituent documents, strategy and programs of development. Nikolai Malchinov, Head of Analytical Department of Ministry of Economical Development, Trade and Enterprise of Altai Republic, was elected the chairman of Telengits Association. He has Kosh-Agach origin and had controlling position in regional administration which made important contribution in development of the regions as he organized the work and ruled the Department of North Affairs of Altai Republic Government. The main subject of Kurultai was celebration Telengits' voluntary joining Russia: to mark this historical event a stone column (Keres Tash) was mounted on Chuisky Highway between Kosh-Agach and Ortolyk villages.

From organizations of Lauravetlan Information and Education Network of Indigenous Peoples and Information Center of Indigenous Peoples of Altai Republic we congratulate Nikolai Malchinov for his election on this high and responsible position and wish him and the Telengits Association success, development and prosperity and hope on good colaboration for the weal of all Altai peoples!

 
17/10/04

News from Krasnoyarsk Regional Indigenous Information Center "Argish"

14/10/04


Mining Industry and Indigenous Peoples of Krasnoyarsk Kray

Vankor oil deposit in Polar part of Turukhansk Region of Krasnoyarsk Kray has been a controversial subject between many oil companies for a long time.
Not many people know that on Vankor territory nomadic people of Evenks are shepherding their deers. Among 168 people of population of Sovrechka village there are 163 Evenks. Besides Evenks, in this region Ketos and Selkups have been living from ancient times. Total aboriginal population is about 1400 people, they are all anxious about their future.

Indigenous peoples of the region have the only question to the Head of "Rosneft" company S. Bogdanchikov: how their company is going to implement the partnership with them for solving peoples' social, economical and cultural problems (saving cultural heritage, preparation of specialists, providing employment, development of traditional economy and works) marking the Decade of Indigenous Peoples. No comments have been given by the Head of "Rosneft" yet.

Vancor is the biggest in volume mineral reserve found for the last 15 years. Its licensed area is 1400 sq. km. This reserve will be enough for 100 years. The estimated period of project is 35 years. "Rosneft" is planning to mine by 2005 up to 1.5 mln. tonnes of oil, in the 12th year of the project about 9 mln. tonnes... If analysts appraise one barrel from $1 to $2 then Vankor reserves can be appraised today from $125 to $250 mln. Annual profit of Krasnoyarsk Kray's budget from Vankor wealth will be approx. from 30 to 40 mln. rubles. So Vankor is the future of Siberia.

Behind the global problems of Vankor the problem of survival of indigenous peoples in Turukhansk Region became invisible. These small peoples live on their native land hunting and fishing, reindeer-breeding. They have very low living standards, almost 100% unemployment, $40-60 pension in North conditions. The future like this scares. The only hope is for the knowledge and skills in hunting and fishing left by the ancestors, for lands which should stay the same. And for the new knowledge which could help adapting to modern life and keep the heritage.

On the territory of Vankor deposit there are old deer paths located. "Oldomon" community ("Oldomon" means "fish lake" in Evenk language) raises important questions on the subject. Some of the questions were replied by Simona Yurchenko, Head of Turukhansk Region on the meeting with Sovrechka inhabitants in April 2004. Her arguments for the question "Is Vankor the good or the evil?" were ponderable: 1) it's good, and not only for Turukhansk Region but for all Krasnoyarsk Kray; 2) the importance of the deposit was stressed by the Governor of Krasnoyarsk Kray Alexander Khloponin; 3) in the near future Turukhansk will become a very important industrial area. The argument of Sovrechka inhabitants was, "This is our land and we don't need any oil. What will happen when oil-workers come?" The answer of the Head of the region was, "This land belongs to the State. Oil-workers work in civilized way. They don't want to offend anybody but to help you. And we should use this possibility. Nobody says that you should go away. You will keep deer-breeding. But we should define where exactly trading stations and pastures will be located, map the burials." All these points will be noted in the agreement between "Yeniseineft" and the region. As the conclusion of the meeting we can give the opinion of Antonida Davinduk, Head of Sovrechka Administration and acting as the Head of "Oldomon" community, "I'm for mining oil but we should do our best to save nature".

One more problem is that there are no competent representatives of indigenous peoples in Kray authority. So they cannot have constant dialogue with the authority, get in time authentic information concerning their life, watch the prospect of their development.

Regional Indigenous Information Center "Argish" (Director N. Novik) suggests the leaders of "Rosneft" and regional administration to work out and implement joint project "Partnership in Action: Specialists for North". The purpose: prepare managing and other specialists among indigenous peoples of Krasnoyarsk Kray for working on their native territories. From March to April included 2004 24 representatives of indigenous peoples and national communities received basic knowledge on human rights and legislation (national and international), on projects management and on computer technologies during the courses in "Argish" center. Some of the interns revealed extraordinary talents which must be developed, but they don't have possibility. In 2005 in "Argish" center interns from other regions of Krasnoyarsk Kray, Evenki and Taimyr, will learn in the program "Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples' Rights". We can give recommendations to the center interns with extraodinary abilities for participating in the project.

Vadim Ryazantsev, information manager of "Argish" center

 
08/10/04

News from Youth Information Center "Nevond", Karelia Republic

Non-for-profit state organization "Repablican Center of National Cultures"

Lenin Square, 2, Petrozavodsk, Karelia Republic, 185620
Identification Number 1001040657
Tel/Fax: +7 814 2 78 46 63
E-mail: rcnc@sampo.ru
www.etnocenter.ru

Information Letter

Dear colleagues!
In connexion with concluding in December 2004 International Decade of Indigenous Peoples of the World proclaimed by UN, Republic Center of National Cultures, Youth Information Center of Indigenous Peoples "NEVOND", Community of Veps Culture, Union of Karelia People and Union of Ingermanland Finns of Karelia are organizing International Conference "Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Russian and World Contexts" in Petrozavodsk (Karelia Republic) on December, 9-10. The purpose of International Decade of Indigenous Peoples of the World was proclaimed reinforcement of international cooperation in solving problems which indigenous peoples face in the area of human rights, education, culture, environment and health care. To achieve the proclaimed purposes during the period of International Decade UN has made many important decisions, among them establishment of position of special lecturer about situation in sphere of human rights and main liberties of indigenous peoples, Permanent Forum for indigenous peoples issues was created. Knowledge of people about problems of indigenous peoples and activity for protecting their rights considerably increased on international and national levels.
On the International Conference "Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Russian and World Contexts" it is supposed to discuss the results of International Decade on international and national levels, to prepare recommendations for the next International Decade of Indigenous Peoples.
We invite you to participate in the conference and ask to send applications for participation noting the subject of your speech before October, 1, 2004 on the following address:
Lenin Square, 2, Petrozavodsk, Karelia Republic
Tel./Fax: +7 814 2 78 46 63
E-mail:
rcnc@sampo.ru
www.etnocenter.ru
www.nevond@mail.ru
Lana Migunova: +7 814 2 78 46 63
Eugenia Shustova: +7 814 2 76 46 89

The partners of the project are State Commitee of Karelia Republic on National Politics Issues, cultural and educational institutions. On concluding the conference there will be gala-concert of creative groups of national cultural organizations of Karelia Republic and foreign participants of the festival from Barents region. Food and accomodation for conference participants are at the expence of organizers.

 
12/08/04
Karelia Republic participates at IV World Congress of the Finnish-Ugric peoples

IV World Congress of the Finnish-Ugric peoples * with participation of representatives of 21 Finnish-Ugric Peoples will be hold in the capital of Estonia - Tallinn, at August 15-19, 2004.
Well represented delegation from the Republic of Karelia lead by Sergei Katanandov, Head of the region is ready to leave for the forum of international level. At August 14 forty-one men will go by bus from Petrozavodsk to the capital of Estonia for attending and working at the peoples' congress. Among them are delegates from communities, officials, free observers and journalists. Head of the Karelia Republic, Sergei Katanandov will attend the Congress as an observer. He will make welcome statement to all delegates and participants of the forum and inform them about situation of the Finnish-Ugric peoples of Karelia: the Karels, the Veps, the Finns and the Ingermanlanders. Official delegation of the Karelia Republic consists of a member of the Federation Council of the Federal Parliament of the Russian Federation (RF) Viktor Stepanov, Chairman of the Goskomitet (State Committee) of the Karelia Republic Nikolai Levin, Adviser to the Head of the Karelia Republic on national issues Viktor Akhtiev.
Peoples' delegation of the Karelia Republic is represented by members of national-cultural and public-political organizations: Gathering of the Karels, Union of the Karel people, Karel congress, Veps Culture Community, Ingernamlander Union of the Karelia's Finns, youth organizations: Nuori Karjala
и Vepsän vezad. Totally there will be 28 delegates from the republic (20 Karels, 6 Veps and 2 from the Finns (Ingermanlanders).
Preparations to IV World Congress of the Finnish-Ugric peoples have taken almost a year. Agenda of the forum was discussed at the last meeting of the Consultative committee of the Finnish-Ugric peoples (Chairman Valeriy Markov, the Komi Republic), which was held at the beginning of October in Sombathee, Hungary. At the Consultative committee the Karels of the Karelia Republic are represented by Chairman of the Council of IV Gathering's plenipotentiaries Viktor Bogdanov, Deputy Chairman of the Goskomitet of the Karelia Republic of national policy issues Tatyana Kleerova, the Veps by Chairman of the Veps culture community, expert of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Zinaida Strogolshikova, the Finns (Ingermanlanders) are represented by the RF State Duma (Parliament) deputy Artur Myaki. These people are given responsibility to provide peoples representation of the Karelia Republic at the Congress work.
"Youth - our future" is the forum topic. Half of the Karelia Republic delegation consists of the youth. Among them are scientists, teachers, artists, museum workers, writers, journalists and state employees.
Plenary meeting of the Congress will take place in the State concert hall of Estonia at August 15. In the forum working days caucuses on the indigenous people and ethnic minorities' rights, language and education, culture, mass media, environment, health and demography issues will be held. Topics of the caucus meetings will include consideration of issues on practice of decision making and implementation mechanisms formation of language and cultural policy in regions of the Finnish-Ugric settlements, on language planning and international experience in sphere of languages development, on modern bi/multilingual education, on culture of the Finnish-Ugric peoples as resource of socio-economic development of the Russian regions and other.
High position officials of the states showed interest to the Forum: Presidents of Hungary, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, and Heads of some regions of the RF, representatives of legislative and executive authorities of the RF, many other international experts, and scientists on politics, sociolinguists and jurists.
Obligatory term for the forum delegates: to make statements in their own native languages to be translated into working languages of the Congress. Working languages of the Forum are Estonian, Finnish, English and Russian.
In the forum framework there will be held a day of presentations of successful projects in the Finnish-Ugric world. Delegations will present projects which have beneficially contributed to preservation and development of language and culture for the future generations. Presentations were prepared by youth NGOs of the republic: Nuori Karjala
и Vepsän vezad and by recently established Youth Indigenous Information Center "Nevond". Samples of literature published recently in the national languages were also prepared for exhibition for all Finnish-Ugric community.
From Karelia a musical group of "Istoki" conservatoire, a soloist of the national ensemble "Koski" Ivan Kielevieynen and actor of the national theatre Santeri Kuykka will participate in cultural program of the forum.

*World Congress of the Finnish-Ugric peoples (held once in four years; last was in Helsinki, 2000) is a forum of representatives of the Finnish-Ugric peoples, also of the Samadhi peoples, non governmental and non political gathering which activities are ruled with the Declaration on main principles, objectives and tasks of cooperation of the Finnish-Ugric peoples of the world (Syktyvkar, 1992).
* Delegates of the Congress are elected by every people on free basis; norms for the Governments are defined by the Consultative committee of the Finnish-Ugric peoples.

All information on preparation to the Congress is available in the Internet: http://www.suri.ee/kongress

Article by Natalia Antonova, Goskomnaz RK 784355 (State Committee on Issues of National Policy of the Republic of Karelia)


 
 
21/07/04


United Nations
Economic and Social Council
Commission on Human Rights
Sub-Commission on the Promotion of Human Rights
22 session of the Working Group on Indigenous Population
19-23 July 2004 Geneva, Switzerland
Item: 4 b

Statement by Chagat Almashev, LIENIP

Dear Mr. Chairman, colleagues, brothers and sisters,

I am representing a Russian network organisation, which is called Lauravetlan Information and Education Network of Indigenous People (LIENIP) and also a local NGO Foundation for Sustainable Development of Altai (FSDA), which has been established on the recommendation of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Altai Republic.
Russian part of the Altai Mountains are subdivided onto the Altai Republic and Altai krai (territory), two independent regions of the Russian Federation. The Altai Republic is mostly populated by different indigenous peoples belonging to the Turkic group of the Altai family of languages (Altai-kizhi, Telengits, Kumandins, Tubalars, Chelkans, Teleuts and Shors), ethnic groups of the Slavic and other roots peoples.
Our mountains are famous for its biological, ethnical, cultural and historical diversity and its territory is inscribed as the Golden Mountains of Altai into the UNESCO list of the World Nature Heritage. We recognise the global significance of the Altai Mountains diversity and therefore we draw attention to threats, problems and conflicts we face recently in Altai. Rapid economic development, which threatens unique biota and traditional livelihoods and environment is an obvious and hazardous scenario if it is allowed to develop unchecked and unregulated. The key problem, which causes conflicts, is regulation of landownership and landuse.
Our Republic is in the process of setting up so called Ethnic and Nature Parks, which protect areas of environmental and cultural importance while allowing compatible human activities. There are now five Parks comprising 286,370 hectares of land; two more Parks are in the process of formation. What is good about these protected areas? Firstly, these nature parks are totally local people initiative and these protected areas have regional status but recognized by the Federal government and the parks are organised and managed by local indigenous leaders. Secondly, the parks combine conservation and development issues using both indigenous and scientific approaches in zoning and landscape planning of the parks' areas. Sacred sites are identified as core areas equal to biodiversity concentration spots, buffer zones are allowed to local people to lead traditional landuse (cattle farming) and Ecotourism and scientific research activities and development areas include villages and farms with intensive economic development permitted but with certain environmental limits.
Now we have conflict of interests: on one hand, federal authorities are not interested to support Protected Areas of regional status because they are under the regional and local governments, on the another hand, regional authorities does show any interest to expand quantity of regional Protected Areas as federal Strictly Protected Areas occupy almost 22% of the whole territory of the Republic, to add more protected areas even of regional status means to Altai government as real restrictions to regional economic development. 22% federal strictly Protected Areas do not allow any interference indigenous people with their traditional landuse (farming, fishing, hunting). But the indigenous conceive regional Ethnic and Nature parks as an only possible way or mechanism to protect their lands from privatisation, which is very possibly to happen after 2006 according to federal laws. We mean Russian federal "Forest Code" and "Land Code" which are in a process of passing through federal Parliament now and which ignore indigenous people rights to their lands and forests and to lead their traditional landuse at all. We want our sacred sites, mountains, lakes, rivers, lands to be areas of common use at least, which cannot be private or withdrawn and restricted to indigenous population by federal authorities. Therefore our NGOs (LIENIP and FSDA) and international organisations support and foster development process of the regional parks owned by the indigenous leaders in the Altai Republic of Russia.
Tourism is considered as a primary sector for the economic development of the Altai Republic. Districts located near the Republic capital, benefit much: rapid economic development, construction of highways, "western type" hotels and restaurants. Local people in remote high mountain districts witness negative aspects of tourism: "western type" modification and pollution of ecosystems, trash in tourist places and sacred sites, unsanctioned diggings of kurgans (burial mounds), and destruction of petroglyphs, ignorance and disrespect to indigenous cultures. Therefore many local indigenous communities consider tourism as a negative factor and a real threat to their traditional livelihoods and cultures. In the case of the Altai, it is crucial for us to promote and develop community-based tourism (Ecotourism or Ethnic tourism) to provide some income to local rural communities while protecting the natural environment and cultural heritage. Western type tourism is not a remedy for us or for our poor regional economy; only Ethnic tourism backed by local communities is able to be a compromise in a regional dilemma of development and conservation. Ii is our interpretation of a sustainable development concept of our region.
Human resource and local capacity building is very important issue in the case with Altai as the key stakeholders of conservation and development processes are local people and indigenous communities who are strongly motivated to protect their lands and traditional livelihoods which proved to be sustainable and more environmentally friendly for thousand years we live in our mountains. These parks' main conflict with regional and federal governments that lands of the parks belong to different landowners (federal 1 category forests, farming lands, villages and pastures and recreational lands) and they should be converted to municipal status or lands of common use. This is a vision of indigenous peoples of the Altai region of Russia. Summing up my statement I would like to tell one success story in protection of indigenous lands. Indigenous communities of Altai had been fighting since the end of 90-s to take back a small 2,5 hectare area at the coast of the Teletskoye Lake (we call it Golden lake) from a big industrial and tourist company. Just recently in June of 2006 we legally won at the regional courts and took this site back to our indigenous communities. This victory we dedicate to the International Decade of Indigenous Populations to inspire all indigenous peoples to protect rights to their lands and traditional livelihoods.
Thank you for your attention.

20/07/04

United Nations
Economic and Social Council
Commission on Human Rights
Sub-Commission on the Promotion of Human Rights
22 session of the Working Group on Indigenous Population
19-23 July 2004 Geneva, Switzerland
Item: 4 b

Statement by Kamila Shermatova, NGO "Istok" & LIENIP

Mr. Chairperson!
Dear members of the Working Group, brothers and sisters!

At the beginning of my statement I want to thank the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations which has made possible my participation at this session. My name is Kamila Shermatova, I am representing the Altai regional public organization of the Kumandin people "Istok", which is a participant NGO of "Lauravetlan Information and Education Network of Indigenous People" of Russia (LIENIP).
Concerning the topic of the year "Conflicts Resolution", I want to underline, that by conflict we understand an intense or stress within public system. Differentiating two types of it we can identify a potential conflict. First is among the indigenous communities, who are preserving its traditional social structures and living mainly in rural areas. In this society conflicts appear almost exclusively because of competition for recourses - water and land, caused by a demographic and ecological crisis.
As for the Altaisky krai (territory), when the Russian Federation Law "On differentiating of the state landownership" was adopted, which recognized equity of rights of the state and its citizens, an urgent need has now appeared to have unified rules which would clarify the order of the landownership circulations. These mechanisms have been inscribed in the Federal Law "On circulation of the lands of agricultural use". Nether less these laws have not resolved problems but caused more. The main problem is incoherent complications on rights of landowners.
Article 69 of the Russian Federation Constitution guarantees the rights of the indigenous small-numbered peoples in accordance with worldwide recognized principles, norms of the international legislation on human rights and international agreements of Russia. But in practice it is hard for the indigenous people to implement their rights because of a condition of the main law. Adopted legislative acts on rights of the indigenous people are implemented slowly. Its implementation mechanism are not worked and in many cases they contradict to other laws of the Russian Federation, therefore number of the land conflicts in Altai and land cases applied for the courts increases.
Second, it is problems of relations of local indigenous and coming populations.
From the point of view of interethnic conflicts, nowadays, there is no tense, as it is, in the Altaisky krai. Interethnic situation is calm, living here national groups (Altai, Kumandin, Telengit, Tubalar, Chelkan, Russian and etc.) have no reason for conflicts, but objectively there is rather complicated social and ecological situation, if not beneficial development of the situation, indirectly it could cause a problem. Factors of social tense in general are the same as in all the Russian Federation: destruction of the economic relations, decrease of industrial production, law level of salary and as a result - no assurance in the future, increasing tense in society and aggressiveness with nowadays circumstances.
Therefore resolving political-legislative problems of the indigenous peoples, it is necessary to consider not only common humanist requirements and international legislative documents, but also which real results this or that variant of resolution would lead to. Legislation should provide achievement at least of three objectives: 1) prevention of interethnic conflicts, 2) supply of high quality wellbeing and normal quality of life for all ethnic groups living on this territory, 3) ensuring ethnic diversity and specifics conservation of this or that ethnic group. It is important to have right hierarchy of objectives, in particular, ensuring priority of common human values over ethnic.
National peace is very fragile and therefore while solving national questions it is important to act extremely considerably. On one hand very inventively to eliminate any cases of nationalism and extremism, on the other - to lead hard and everyday work on development of ethnic and religious tolerance, respect to traditions and customs of a man who lives in neighborhood.
Thank you for attention.

01/03/04

In a Decade of Indigenous peoples of the world (1995-2004) declared by the United Nations since March of 2004 in the Republics of Altai and Karelia, Krasnoyarsk krai (territory) Indigenous Information Centers have been established and started their work within a framework of a project "Network for promotion and development of social, economic and cultural rights of Indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation" (short title - NPIR project).
Development objective of the project is creation of Interregional Network for promotion and protection indigenous rights, establishing Information Centers in the regions of the compact settlements of the indigenous peoples: Altai-kizhi, Kumandins, Tubalars, Chelkans, Telengits, Veps, Ketos, Evenks and Dolgans, education of representatives of communities and associations of indigenous peoples, representatives of local authorities to international and Russian legislation on indigenous rights, their information support.
The project is financed by international organizations: foundation of Diakonisches Werk der EKD, Germany and the Altai component of the project will be co-financed by the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations (UN VFIP). The NPIR initiative has been supported by two representatives of the Russian Federation at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UN PFII). The project duration is 2 years.
During first two years in three regional centers: in Gorno-Altaisk of Altai Republic, Pertazavodsk of Karelia Republic and in Krasnoyarsk of Krasnoyarsk krai 144 indigenous people representatives will be educated. Educational program of the interns will be based on study of the World declaration on human rights, two international pacts (Pact on civil and political rights; Pact on economic, social and cultural rights), European convention on human rights, draft of UN Declaration on indigenous peoples' rights, Russian Constitution, Russian and regional legislation on indigenous small numbered peoples. Meetings with representatives of state authorities, local administrations of self governance, NGOs, international organizations, scientists, ex-interns of Indigenous Information Center "L'auravetl'an", Moscow, will be organized.
"Lauravetan" since 2003 has been working in the above mentioned regions of Russia and established an Interregional association "Lauravetlan Information and Education Network of Indigenous People" (LIENIP) and three regional Centers. The main stakeholders and members of LIENIP are the Altai Regional Public Organization of the Kunandin People "Istok" (Altai krai), Foundation for Sustainable Development of Altai (Altai Republic), Regional Indigenous Information Center "Argish" (Krasnoyarsk krai) and Public Organization of the Veps Youth (Petrazavodsk).
Management of the project is based in Altai.

Archive 2003