Indigenous Peoples in the Barents cooperation

Anna Prakhova

June, 26-27, 2008, Murmansk

«The models of CPC: BSR and Barents region» 

BEN-East project

From the history of exploration of the Kola Region

The Murmansk Region forms the North-Western administrative unit of the Russian Federation. It is situated on the Kola Peninsula and its borders are washed by the Barents sea at the North and White Sea at the North East. Its land frontier borders with Norway and Finland in the West and the Republic of Karelia in the South.

Lujavri from the Google Lakes: Imandra, Umba, Lujavr, Sejdjavr

Mountains: Khibiny, Lovozerskie

Lujavri

Lovozero/Lujavr - Village and Lakeview from helicopter

The first Russian settlements Varzuga and Umba appeared along the White Sea coast “Tersky bereg” in the 15th century. At the time there was a town called Kola, which was founded in the estuary of the Kola Bay. In the Middle Ages, there were three states fighting for the right to control these Northern territories: Sweden/Finland, Denmark/Norway and Russia. Sweden/Finland collected taxes from the Saami People until the middle of the 18th century, Russia and Denmark/Norway – until the beginning of the 19th century.

An increase in the number of population was first observed at the end of the 19th century. It was brought about by a special colonization policy set by the Tsar for Russian peasants, Norwegians and Finns to the Barents coastal area “Murman”. Also Komi and Nenets reindeer herders with their own reindeer flocks migrated over the White Sea to the Eastern areas of the Peninsula due to a tough epidemiological situation there.

The population of the Saami has remained largely the same over the last three hundred years – approximately 2,000 individuals.

The impact of regional exploration on the Kola Saamis

In the year 2002 Saami people population was 0,15 % from all population of the region.

There were 1565 Saami in 1979 and 1769 in 2002 (All-Russia Census

2007: 6)

The Indigenous Peoples’ Year in the Barents Co-operation – the Year 2005

Motto of the Year: Learning By Cooperating

Goals of the Year:Care and Responsibility for Our Common HomelandMutual Respect and UnderstandingAdmittance of the Cultural DiversityPeoples to Peoples Co-operation

WGIP – Working Group of Indigenous Peoples in BEAR

1993 established1995 Advisory Status2005 Harstad Declaration6 members (4 Saami, Nenets,

Vepsian)Regional Council – 1Regional Committee - 12 Secretaries (Advisor in

Norwegian Barents Secretariat, Kirkenes and Head of BIPO in Lovozero)

CSO 1st meeting of the Year

BEAR

Barents Euro-Arctic Cooperation

Barents Euro-Arctic Council

Barents Regional Council

Committee of Senior Officials

Regional Committee

Working Group on Economic Cooperation

Task Force against Trafficking in Human

Beings

Working Group on Emergency and Rescue Services Cooperation

Working Group on Environment

Working Group on Youth Policy

Working Group on the Northern Sea Route

Working Group on Trade Barriers

Steering Committee for the Barents Euro-Arctic Pan-European Transport Area

Working Group on Environment

Task Force on Information and Data

Cooperation

Working Group on Education and

Research

Working Group on Health and Related

Social Issues

Working Group on Investments and

Economic Cooperation

Working Group on Youth Issues

Working Group on Information Technology

Working Group on Communications

Working Group on Culture

Barents Forest Sector

Task Force

Cleaner Production

Task Force

Energy Working Group

February 2005

Working Group of Indigenous Peoples

Self-determination 06.02.1917 Trondheim, First meeting –Saami National Day(Saami Parliament in Russia)1956 Saami Council (ECOSOC UN) 1973 Saami Parliament in

Finland1989 Saami Parliament in Norway1993 Saami Parliament in Sweden1993 – UN Indigenous Year1995-2004 UN Indigenous Decade, SP Council 2005 -2014 Second UN Indigenous Decade2005 – Indigenous Year in the Barents cooperationSeptember 13, 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of IPAugust 9 – the Day of Indigenous Peoples in the World

Saami symbols

August 1986, XIII Saami Conference

Astrid Bol, artist Anders Fjelner (1795-1876),

poem “Children of Sun”

Isak Saba 15.08.1875, Unjarga/ Varangerbotn

Factors to preserve the language

Russian language as native (1995)- 80 % of Saami

Number of speakersLanguage environmentTypes of activitiesRebirth of languageMixed marriagesLanguage policy of the StatePrestige of language Presence of written languageRole of mass-media

(ref: Vakhtin, Golovko, 2004: 114-118)

Language environment

Russian language is only “concurrent” for Saami language in Kola. Davvin-saami language and international cooperation over the state borders are increasing and influence language situation.

the Saami People are divided between four different countries.

“The Stone of the Knowledge” in Kautokeino, Norway and 4 Saami from 4 States. The new building of the Saami University will be ready there in

2009.

Football is all ages, and we restoring and combining with new forms. Saami football is one of the main events at the Summer Festival in Lujavri

(2d or 3d Sunday of June before “the Saami Air Force” will take on its wing). 1st left - Match in Karasjok 2007 – again 2:2; friendship is winner! 2d upper – penalty; 3d down –our “Dasaev” - best goalkeeper Maria Kalmykova.

Twin-municipalities cooperation is natural part in BEAR/ National Culture Centre in Luajvri/Lovozero. Its

reconstruction was financed by MFA Norway and Sweden, Nordic Council of Ministers, Norsk Barents Secretariat, Karasjok

kommune. Opening of the Kola Saami Radio in its building – june 2005.

The established state borders have not taken into account the interests of Saami People living in “siidas” (Saami

villages), which corresponded to the territories of traditional land use.

If traditional trades are secured and preserved then language has more chances. Fishing, hunting and reindeer husbandry, “hard” and “soft” handicraft – these trades were always considered as traditional for Saami people.

Nowadays only reindeer husbandry is remain, but it is in serious crisis to diminish. The rest of activities officially recognized as amateur activities, or hobby. But last September the Saami handicraft trade mark was officially registered in Russia.

Reindeer husbandry

Saami type of reindeer husbandry

1890th komi-izhemtsy 1930th collectivization1960th enlargement 1970th sovkhoz1990th cooperatives2000th ancestral communities

(obschina)1993 World Reindeer herders

Union1997 Association of RH in Russia 2008 Association of RH in

Murmansk region

Radio-connection: village-tundra

The basis of Kola Saamis’ social organization – “siida”, “sijt”, “obschina”, “ancestral community”

The family has always been the basic unit of the Kola Saamis’ social organization. Some families joined together for performing common tasks – fishing and hunting, taking care reindeer etc. The main goal of the community is to provide all members with food, and that is why fairness and solidarity are the main principles of the community/sijta. The obschina unites people on the basis of common culture and language, on the basis of activities aimed at future and based on common economic interests.Each community /sijt has got their own territories, where only members of community can hunt, fish, pick berries. Every member of the community is aware of the territory borders and the communities know about neighbouring borders. Unity and security are the basis of the sijta life. Rights on hunting lands, pastures and fishing waters are divided between families in accordance with necessities and the size of family. Most important decisions need the presence of the representatives of all the families. In the 19th century “siita” were spread out on the whole of the territory of the Peninsula, with exclusion of the “Tersky bereg”, which was inhabited by the Pomory.

“The new” is usually an almost forgotten “old” thing.

“obschina” /”sijt” is a form of special legal organizational unit

Federal Law “About the general principles of the organization of the obschinas (ancestral communities) of the Indigenous Peoples of the North” enables getting access to traditional forms of production and uniting family incomes for preserve their native language and the cultural heritage.

from ”the paper” to “the reality” and to the implementation a“trip” is not short and easy;

Feeling of motherland is strong

Saami Language is used at home, on festivals, and surely on nature, especially in reindeer husbandry, fishing..Speaking native language gives a feeling of home, feeling of motherland – tell speakers.

We believe – reindeer should remain alive…

For all these years the problems related to Saami culture, language, reindeer husbandry, fishing and hunting were overlooked. The ideas on preservation of culture were based on the principles of the majority society, whereas the Saami community had its own different social organization, which was, however, nearly destroyed by that time.

December 2004 -the UN General Assembly by its Resolution proclaimed the Second UN International Indigenous Peoples Decade (2005-2014)May 15th –26th, 2006 UN Indigenous Peoples’ Issues Forum, New-YorkSeptember 2007 – UN General Assembly adopted Declaration on the

Rights of Indigenous Peoples

The revival and strengthening of traditional economic activities can help to increase

employment and initiate self-development of the Saami people.

www.beac.st

Barents cooperation: Economic development Economic cooperation,  trade and investment. Customs cooperation. Energy.    Transport.  Information technology. Other links to business and economy in the Barents Region. Barents cooperation: The environment and nuclear safety Environmental protection.   MNEPR and nuclear safety.  Barents cooperation: Human and social development Education and research, health and related social issues, culture, youth policy, indigenous peoples issues, gender issues. Link.

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Pasjpe, Ollu gihhtu, Спасибо, Thank Youfor Your attention!

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