August and September are the busiest time for census takers in the Russian Far East and Polar Regions, homeland to a large number of ethnic minorities. Officials will take a census of ethnic minorities in 11 Russian regions in August alone.
According to the United Nations, at present, there are 5 thousand indigenous peoples with an overall population of 370 million. Russia’s 2002 census showed that the country has 40 ethnic minorities with a population of 244 thousand. The Nenets are the largest minority with 44 thousand people who have lived in the Archangel, Tyumen and Krasnoyarsk regions for centuries, while the smallest minority are the Ents who live in Taimyr.
The severe climatic and natural conditions, the vulnerability of the traditional life-style and the small number of indigenous people in the Russian Far East and Polar region prompt the government to pursue a special policy towards them. Last year, a concept for the development of ethnic minorities was adopted to preserve them and their culture as an integral part of cultural diversity of Russia, says Regional Development Minister, Victor Basargin.
“The concept of stable development of indigenous people in the Polar region and the Russian Far East adopted by the government is a unique document for the country and the world as a whole,” says Victor Basargin. “It sets the ambitious but real task of improving living standards of these people and preserving their traditional life-style and the use of the gifts of nature. It provides for granting state support and mobilizing their internal resources, including the traditional form of management and self-organization,” Victor Basargin said.
The government supports indigenous people by granting subsidies to the regions where they live. Last year it allocated over one billion rubles or 33 million U.S. dollars.
At present, the life of ethnic minorities has become complicated owing to their inability to adapt to the contemporary economic conditions. Last year, the government banned the hunting of seal cubs, the traditional business of the indigenous people. At the same time, it launched a programme to provide these people with jobs. Under the conditions of market economy, it is no easy task to lead the habitual life on the territories of their ancestors. Outstanding issues, including the use of plots remain the key problem. Consequently, the Russian laws have to be upgraded to help the national minorities to adapt to contemporary conditions.
The international community pays special attention to the preservation of unique cultures of indigenous people in the era of globalization. The ethnic minorities united under the UN have organized their Olympic Games, which will be held for the first time in Winnipeg in 2012. The second International Decade of Indigenous People announced by the UN is now underway. Russia was the first country to set up a national committee to launch it. All Russian regions, where ethnic minorities live, are taking part in the events of the decade.
Download
Please rate: