Yamal shared the best practices of support for economic activity of indigenous minorities of the North

Experience of Yamal in support for indigenous peoples of the North is recognized as one of the best in the country. It was stated by a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Tatyana Gogoleva at the first sitting of the working group under the Agency for the Development of Human Capital in the Far East and the Arctic. It was created to develop the program on support for economic activity of indigenous ethnic minorities of the North living on the territory of the Russian Arctic.  

According to Eduard Yaungad, the chairman of the Committee of the Legislative Assembly of Yamal on state structure, local government and public relations, Yamal offers to replicate its experience in support for fenced reindeer husbandry, which can minimize the problem of shortage of pastures, support for practices of development of industrial fishing, as well as “Ethno-startup” or “Nomadic Startup” — grants for fulfillment of projects of nomadic communities.

“Today at the federal level it is well understood that the program on development of economic activity of indigenous ethnic minorities of the North is extremely necessary. The Arctic residents, who lead the traditional way of life, have many unresolved problems — in reindeer husbandry, traditional fishing, social sphere and even economic issues. All this time regions themselves decide in what degree to help that category of population. Yamal provides serious assistance to tundra-dwellers, and our experience was noticed at the level of the Federation”, he commented.

Eduard Yaungad notes that the difficult epidemiological situation caused by the spread of the coronavirus infection exposed all the pressure points. It has become clear that qualified ethnic personnel are necessary in all areas of economy in order to develop economic activity of indigenous ethnic minorities of the North, and it is necessary to review a tax component for communities and to expand their activities. For example, to allow being busy with entrepreneurship, what will become an impulse for development of economy.

It is supposed that the program on support for economic activity of indigenous ethnic minorities of the North will be ready by the end of 2020. Experience of all regions will be studied and analyzed. The program will include the best practices that can be applied in all arctic regions.

As it should be reminded, the working group created for development of the program on support for economic activity of indigenous ethnic minorities of the North living in the Russian Arctic was headed by the President of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East, a deputy of the State Duma Grigory Ledkov and the director general of the Agency for the Development of Human Capital in the Far East and the Arctic Sergey Khovrat. The sitting of the group took place in the mode of videoconferencing; it was attended by over 60 experts, including representatives of the Federation Council, the State Duma, the Ministry for Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, the Federal Agency for the Affairs of Nationalities, executive authorities of regions in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. Also the regions submitted suggestions for inclusion in the draft program.