Culture of ethnic minorities and preservation of language are being discussed in Salekhard

The International forum “Russia. Indigenous ethnic minorities of the North, Siberia and the Far East” is taking place in Salekhard.

This event became a platform for discussion of topical issues of socioeconomic development of indigenous peoples in the medium-term prospect.
On the working session of the forum “Indigenous ethnic minorities of the North, Siberia and Far East of Russia” the participants are scrutinizing issues on preservation of spiritual and cultural heritage. “For us it is an opportunity to consider the proposals relating exactly to preservation of ethnographic museums, to give them priority rights of development, enlargement of museum collections, and also to discuss the prospects of careful attitude to the sacred culture of indigenous peoples”, as the president of the public organization “Yugra Rescue” Lyudmila Alferova shared the plans.
“We are interested to hear the opinion of other regions, to share our experience in the sphere of legislative base, preservation of traditions and culture of indigenous peoples”, as the head of service for state protection of objects of cultural heritage Elena Dubkova said.
Associate Professor of ethnic culture studies at the Institute of peoples of the North, the Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University Sophia Sorokina is sure that preservation of language, culture and traditions – all of them have common solutions. “Before talking about preservation of language, it needs to speak about preservation of an ethnic group, traditional culture”, she said. – “It needs to think about ways of survival of ethnic groups. To think, how the ethnic group can keep itself, its traditional culture, and then the ethnic group will be reborn, if conditions are created”. In the opinion of the participants, traditional environment and traditional economy are required for full functioning of language.
As we should remind, the work of the forum is taking place on five thematic sections. The participants are discussing issues of preservation of traditional branches of economy, measures on ensuring of access to land, forest and water biological resources, regulation of activity of indigenous communities and responsible nature management.