On October 21, 2009, the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug’s legislative assembly adopted the law “On native languages of the indigenous peoples of the North on the territory of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug”.

The law is aimed at protection, study and development of native languages in the sphere of mass media, scientific-journalistic, fiction and educational literature edition. The law stipulates: the authorities should develop, accept and realize the events and programs directed at providing proper material and technical basis to the educational institutions that teach in native languages; introduction of the system of continuous native languages study in corresponding educational facilities; improvement of the system of training, retraining and further training of teaching staff to teach native languages in schools, institutions of high and higher education in the sphere of mass media and science. According to this law Autonomous Okrug’s public authorities and local governments should organize translation of the federal, regional laws and other standard acts on the indigenous peoples’ of the North rights protection into native languages and their publication.

Oleg Syugney

Two events were held with active support and participation of the Ministry of Regional Development in the last ten-day period of October 2009. They directly concerned interests of the indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East and, correspondently, those of the RAPON.

The Coordinating Council’s regular meeting was held in Moscow, on October 23. Leaders of the regional associations of the indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East as members of the Coordinating Council participated in the session.

“I am impressed with certain initiatives of the Russian government at federal and regional levels aimed at solving the problems of the indigenous small-numbered peoples who live in the country”, - said James Anaya, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People at today's press-conference in “Interfax” agency resuming his visit to Russia. “Still, consolidation and practical application of these initiatives to improve the indigenous peoples' condition is a burning issue”, - added Mr. Anaya.

James Anaya, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People, as a part of his official visit to Khabarovsk participated in a meeting with the representatives of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of Khabarovsk Krai. Among other meeting participants were present the following people: Lubov Passar, president of the Association of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North of Khabarovsk Krai, Nikolai Sipin, head of the Elders’ Quorum of the Association of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North of Khabarovsk Krai, Galina Volkova, aide to the minister of nature resources of Khabarovsk Krai on the indigenous small-numbered peoples’ affairs, employees of the Information Law Center of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North “Mede-Center” and the youth center “Phoenix of the Amur”, Victoria Yukomzan, head of the Ulika-Natsionalnoe settlement.