Valentina Sovkina, representative of the Saami people, member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
Thank you, distinguished Chair. Can you hear me?
(Checking connection.)
I fully agree with the previous statements and would like to thank Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim (member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues – editor’s note — iR) for her research, and I also support the proposals made earlier by Sara Olsvig (Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council — ICC International – editor’s note — iR).
Indigenous peoples have historically inhabited territories rich in natural resources: oil, gas, forests, and minerals. These resources have become targets for major industrial companies, leading to the displacement of Indigenous Peoples from their ancestral lands. As an example, today you heard from a representative of the Shor people about the traditional settlement of Kazas.
Although the Constitution of the Russian Federation and certain legislative acts recognize the rights of Indigenous Peoples to participate in the governance of their traditional territories, in practice such participation is either purely decorative or entirely absent. Formal advisory councils established under governors or regional heads often serve only a consultative role, lacking real authority.
Local Indigenous leaders, especially in remote areas, are often appointed from above and do not necessarily reflect the interests of the Indigenous Peoples they are meant to represent. The Law of the Russian Federation on Indigenous Communities allows for the creation of such communities, but they are deprived of practical resources — financial or legal. Frequently, they are compelled to enter into partnerships with large corporations, which makes them dependent, and to accept subsidies that oblige them to participate in events organized by regional authorities or corporate actors in the territories where they reside.
For example, the Association of the Kola Saami has signed an agreement with Norilsk Nickel and receives direct funding from the company.
Interactions between governmental authorities, Indigenous Peoples, and commercial companies are often one-sided, resulting in the infringement of Indigenous rights. The lack of genuine self-governance and inadequate protection of Indigenous interests during the exploitation of natural resources lead to conflicts and the erosion of traditional ways of life.
I would now like to show a short film, which speaks volumes and serves as an illustration of what my brother from the Shor people of Russia just described.
Think about it – where is your home? Is it where you live? And is it truly your home – where you live?
Source: ICIPR