#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. The Nornickel company and the Federal Agency for Nationalities Affairs (FANA) of Russia signed an additional agreement to the document, valid from 2023, on measures to support the indigenous peoples of the North.
Nornickel has long been implementing a program to support indigenous peoples. It is included in the company’s 10-year development strategy until 2030. Preserving the traditional way of life, supporting the economy and culture, and protecting their rights are important components of the company’s social activities.
Nornickel has committed to finance a number of other activities aimed at ensuring the realization of the rights and promoting the sustainable development of indigenous peoples, as well as the preservation and development of their culture and economy.
“The agreement between FANA and Nornickel provides financing for a number of projects: educational, cultural, scientific, participation in international cooperation and others. It is important that the beneficiaries are not only the communities of indigenous peoples in the regions of the company’s economic presence, but also all-Russian communities”, said Igor Barinov, head of the FANA of Russia.
“Our attitude towards indigenous peoples is not one-time actions, not attempts to appease, but an honest, transparent and conscious position, the course of which is the development of corporate ethnoculture. The company works to preserve and develop all cultures with which Nornickel comes into contact. Our goal is to build partnerships with all interested parties. Cooperation is equilateral, officially established and carried out with regional and municipal authorities, the FANA of Russia, indigenous minorities associations, as well as directly with communities”, said Nornickel vice president Andrey Grachev.
Previously, Nornickel adopted a policy regarding the rights of indigenous peoples, a new version has been developed and is being discussed, which recognizes the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples, describes in detail due diligence measures.
The agreement concluded by Nornickel with indigenous minorities associations in 2020 is for five years, the amount of funding is 2 billion rubles and includes more than 40 events.
Additionally, in 2021–2023, through the Coordination Council of Indigenous Peoples at the Polar Branch of the company, 100 million rubles were allocated annually to support North indigenous minorities.
The support plan was drawn up taking into account the wishes of 36 communities living in the Far North. It includes investments in the development of the economy of traditional natural resource management, in improving the quality of life in villages, in the development of culture, the preservation of languages and education.
The new agreement with FANA of Russia will continue the company’s policy of supporting the peoples of the North, jointly solving their problems and respecting their rights.
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Text: Angelika Stepanova, Photo: Denis Kozhevnikov
