#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. At a meeting of the coordinating council of the North indigenous peoples’ communities under the Norilsk Division’s head, a decision was made to allocate 300 thousand rubles to Taimyr communities to prepare for winter. The meeting was held with the participation of the North indigenous peoples communities’ chairmen – today there are already 58 of them on the council.
“Our goal is to ensure the right to preserve, support and promote the languages, traditions and rich culture of the peoples, of which the indigenous ethnic groups of Taimyr are bright representatives. It is very important that all these tasks really change the lives of indigenous peoples for the better. This is what our programs to support the indigenous peoples of Taimyr are aimed at. At the same time, we are well aware of the difficulties that the indigenous people of Taimyr face, so in addition to implementing our large programs, we also provide private charitable assistance and maintain an ongoing dialogue with community representatives. I am sure that we will continue to solve all the problems of Taimyr residents through joint efforts”, said Nikolay Utkin, Nornickel senior vice president and Norilsk Division head.
Anfisa Nikiforova, the Nornickel’s Polar Branch’s Work with North Indigenous Minorities Department head, emphasized that people see how the company helps them and how much has been done:
“For example, a large two-billion-ruble program to support indigenous peoples is being successfully implemented in Taimyr. From 2020 to 2024 alone, 21 apartments were purchased for orphans – the company allocated 41 million rubles for this”.
Nornickel allocated 202 million rubles for the individual construction of residential buildings in the villages of Ust-Avam and Volochanka. This year, 18 families will celebrate housewarming. Three paramedic and obstetric stations have already been created, the cost of the issue is 154 million rubles. In 2025, two more will appear in the villages of Hantayskoye Ozero and Popigai.
“The company also pays great attention to the construction of cultural facilities in the villages”, continued Anfisa Nikiforova. “Drilling of piles for the rural house of culture in the largest reindeer herding village of Nosok has already begun, its grand opening is planned for October next year. The houses of culture opening is also expected in the villages of Volochanka and Heta. The amount of funding for these events is 815 million rubles”.
Much attention is paid to the revival of traditional crafts. This is not only the development of domestic reindeer herding and assistance in preparing for the hunting and fishing seasons, but also the repair of ice stores at fishing points, the purchase of mobile houses for family and clan communities, as well as participation in auctions for the right to conclude an agreement on securing shares of quotas for the water resources extraction and even the souvenirs sale.
“We have reached a new level of development”, emphasized Anfisa Nikiforova. “Today we are talking about the development of the economy of not only the communities, but the entire Taimyr. This year, our communities, with the Nornickel’s support, took part in an auction to conclude agreements on securing shares of fish catch quotas. And three communities that are part of the council, having applied, took their lots. For example, the Kou Kyun community got five tons of fish. This is a very good support for our communities, which today have the opportunity not only to fish, but also to export products for sale in the retail chains of Dudinka and Norilsk. And this right is officially confirmed. Moreover, these communities are now preparing packages of documents to conclude agreements with the Podsolnuh retail chain for the sale of their products”.
The Kumak Kytyl community, headed by Sergey Elogir, with the support of Nornickel, signed a contract for 20 tons of fish catch at the last auction, which the chairman is very happy about, since, according to him, without the company’s support, many communities would disappear, but now they not only live, but develop.
Also, the topic of the visitor center in Ust-Avam was raised at the council meeting. The construction of this facility is nearing completion. Very soon, Taimyr guests will be able to come, comfortably accommodate and learn how the northern peoples really live and what the real Arctic is. Taimyr will be one of the first in the development of the travel format to villages. Thanks to this project, Ust-Avam will become another calling card of the peninsula and a new point on the tourist map of the Arctic. The visitor center will also become a cultural and educational center for village residents, where it will be possible to hold leisure activities for local residents. The company will continue, if necessary, to build public baths in Taimyr villages, as these are very popular social facilities.
Another important issue is the pantotherapy center of the non-profit organization Hanavey, which the company supported. The project allows residents and guests of Taimyr to receive procedures based on antler decoctions.
“Today, the pantotherapy center, which was opened in 2021, is developing successfully”, added Anfisa Nikiforova. “It has become a real attraction for tourists. And at today’s meeting of the Hanavey council, I came up with an initiative to open the center’s branch in Norilsk. Moreover, I propose introducing antler baths into the company’s corporate medicine to improve miners and metallurgists’ health”.
The participants of the coordinating council meeting especially emphasized that Nornickel is ahead of their wishes in its dialogue with them. And at this meeting, senior vice president Nikolay Utkin announced an important decision. The company will provide additional assistance to the communities included in the council to prepare for winter in the amount of 300 thousand rubles each – this will allow them to purchase fuel, food, spare parts for snowmobiles and boats.
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