Yamal is outpacing federal recommendations on protection of indigenous peoples in conditions of the pandemic

The Federal Agency for Affairs of Nationalities made recommendations to governors of regions, where indigenous peoples live. The recommendations include preservation of hunting and fishing seasons in 2020 on species that are characteristic for the traditional way of life and traditional economic activity of indigenous peoples, as well as their communities, with consideration of obligatory precautionary measures.

It is also offered to organize timely issuance of permitting and reporting documents related to use of biological resources, as well as in the electronic form on the distance basis by appointment with observance of social distance and precautionary measures.

It is obligatory to provide the sufficient amount of quotas (limits) of biological resources for subsequent periods by types of traditional hunting and fishing in conditions of negative delaying consequences of self-isolation on the mode of life support of indigenous ethnic minorities and their communities.

It is recommended to accumulate support measures for social groups of indigenous ethnic minorities, for whom existing restrictions have disproportionate negative delaying consequences, including assessment of sufficiency of existing support measures. It is reported by the information service of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East.

Also the Federal Agency for Affairs of Nationalities offered regions to reallocate subsidies allocated to support for economic and social development of indigenous minorities of the North, Siberia and Far East of the Russian Federation in 2020 into measures that can provide support for representatives of indigenous peoples, who find themselves in difficult life situations.

“Violation of the annual cycle of preparation and purveyance, as well as sale of corresponding products in the conditions imposed for the period of COVID-19 restrictions threatens the basis of life support of indigenous ethnic minorities and leads to disproportionate negative consequences for them”, as it is written in the letter from the Federal Agency for Affairs of Nationalities.

As it should be noted, such measures are already being taken in Yamal. As reported by the news agency “Sever-Press”, nomadic payments for nomads were increased, and people have already started receiving them in districts. Bodies for affairs of indigenous ethnic minorities of the North conduct explanatory work among tundra-dwellers about necessity to take care of their health. Also they provide assistance in conducting of vaccination against anthrax. Also they inform about preventive measures against the coronavirus infection, monitor the state of the reindeer-herding sector.

Specialists of subdivisions on social protection of population tell about new federal and regional payments for families with children and immediately accept applications - tundra-dwellers often do not have the opportunity to apply in a timely manner and to receive required payments.

“The governor set a task to take all necessary measures to minimize the risks of spreading of the coronavirus infection among residents, who lead the traditional lifestyle of indigenous peoples of the North. We are in close dialogue with tundra population, bringing information to every family. Helplines were opened in municipalities for this purpose. The local authorities regularly monitor how trading posts for nomads work, deliver products and monitor prices. It is especially important to ensure conditions that all additional social payments provided by the federal and regional legislation reach recipients timely and in full amount”, said the vice-governor Irina Sokolova.