Dmitry Kobylkin: Yamal and other distinctive regions is the true pride of our strong Russia

According to experts, Yamal has one of the strongest legislative bases in the country on protection of indigenous peoples. The Governor of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Dmitry Kobylkin underlines it in his speech within the forum “Russia. Indigenous ethnic minorities of the North, Siberia and the Far East”, which is currently taking place in Salekhard. As he says, last year several important decisions were taken, such as the laws on reindeer husbandry, fishery, and the Councils of indigenous ethnic minorities of the North were created under every head in municipalities.

Dmitry Kobylkin reminds that the strong legislative base (12 state programs, more than 40 laws, 300 regulations) acts in the region in relation to indigenous northerners. The laws “On reindeer husbandry” and “On fishery”, the most important for tundra-dwellers, were adopted in 2016. The unified information system for modeling and forecasting of socioeconomic development of indigenous peoples was recognized effective and was taken for consideration by the Federal Agency for Affairs of nationalities. All the new laws passed through large-scale public discussion, many of them were suggested by residents of Yamal.
In the conclusion the governor of Yamal notes that in the region everything is done for the sake of the future. One of the highest birth rates in the country is in Yamal. The indigenous population makes 42 thousand people, nearly 20 percent of the total number of indigenous peoples in Russia. During ten years the natural increase in number of indigenous northerners made about 12 percent — more than four thousand people. Initiatives of young people are supported in every possible way, folklore and folk crafts are preserved, and production is developed in the arctic region. By the way, the young delegates of the Forum from the Association of indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East are active participants in all Russian events — during the speech they expressed strong support to Dmitry Kobylkin (many of them have repeatedly met with the Governor of Yamal on support of the new generation of indigenous peoples in Russia). “We do all this, because Yamal and other distinctive regions are the true pride of our strong Russia. Here traditions are saved at fulfillment of important projects, and this is the basis, on which stable future is built, as Dmitry Kobylkin underlines.