The International forum of indigenous peoples was opened in Salekhard

The opening ceremony of the international forum “Russia. Indigenous ethnic minorities of the North, Siberia and the Far East” is taking place in Salekhard. 600 guests and invited representatives, including delegates of the 8th congress of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East are participating in it.

Representatives from Russian regions, where indigenous ethnic minorities of the North, Siberia and the Far East of Russia reside, federal bodies of the power, the Arctic Council Indigenous Peoples Secretariat, the Association of World Reindeer Herders, the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry arrived to Salekhard. Diplomats from Azerbaijan, the USA, Great Britain, France and Czechia and also businesspeople from Iceland and Germany became the guests on the Polar Circle.
Within the forum it is planned to discuss issues of interaction between the regions within activity of such organizations as the Northern Forum, the Arctic Council, the University of the Arctic and the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East. Special attention will be paid to issues of northern reindeer husbandry.
The work of the forum will be conducted on platforms of 5 sections. The participants of the thematic sections will discuss issues of preservation of traditional branches of economy, measures on providing of access to land, forest and water biological resources, issues of regulation of activity of indigenous communities and responsible nature use.
Social policy will be scrutinized as a factor of sustainable development of indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East. The discussion on issues of preservation of spiritual and cultural legacy of indigenous ethnic minorities and popularization of traditional crafts and trades will take place. The participants also will discuss future of youth of indigenous ethnic minorities. Journalists of Russian and foreign mass media are working within the forum. The opening ceremony is taking place in the online mode.