Indigenous Peoples in the Barents cooperation Anna Prakhova June, 26-27, 2008, Murmansk «The models of CPC: BSR and Barents region» BEN-East project
Jan 22, 2016
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.
www.barents.no, www.barentsobserver.com, www.barentsinfo.org
Pasjpe, Ollu gihhtu, Спасибо, Thank Youfor Your attention!