The Republic
of Sakha (Yakutia) will host the International Traditional Reindeer Herding
Championship on 15–19 March as part of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic
Council in 2021–2023.
«The
International Traditional Reindeer Herding Championship is of paramount
importance in the context of the state’s efforts to preserve the traditional
cultures of the Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic and will serve as an excellent
tool for promoting the customs and lifestyle that have developed over the
centuries. It’s impossible to ensure the sustainable socioeconomic development
of the Arctic territories and create comfortable conditions for citizens living
there without taking into account the experience and knowledge of the
Indigenous ethnic groups who have originally lived in this territory. I firmly
believe that the championship will help strengthen ties between representatives
of the Indigenous Peoples of the North,» said Nikolay Korchunov, Chair of the Senior
Arctic Officials and Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Cooperation of the Russian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The
International Conference ‘Sustainable Development of Reindeer Herding Amidst
Global Changes in the Arctic’ will be held as part of the championship.
Scheduled speakers at the conference include President of the Council of the Association
of World Reindeer Herders Sergey Kharyuchi, Member of the Russian Federation
Council and President of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the
North Grigory Ledkov, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Republic of
Sakha (Yakutia) Mikhail Nikiforov, and President of the Association of Indigenous
Peoples of the North of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) Andrey Krivoshapkin.
The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the company A-Property,
and the Istok Nomadic Tribal Community of Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples of
the North will sign a cooperation agreement on the sidelines of the conference.
In addition, the
Council of the Association of World Reindeer Herders will hold an extraordinary
meeting, and a project will be presented to build the Unique Iengra
ethno-tourism complex.
«As part of
the state programme to support the economic activities of the Indigenous
Peoples of the North, RUB 450 million per year will be allocated from the
federal budget over the next three years. These funds will, among other things,
be used to promote reindeer farms and support small and medium-sized
businesses. The championship’s business programme will include a discussion on
the strategy for modernizing reindeer herding, opportunities for public-private
partnerships in this regard, as well as personnel training issues. We expect
the discussions to contribute to new promising approaches to the development of
Indigenous Peoples and their economic activities,» Minister for the Development
of the Russian Far East and Arctic Alexey Chekunkov said.
The championship
features various types of competitions, including sled jumping, men’s and
women’s reindeer roping, a combined relay race, reindeer catching, as well as a
race on reindeer sleds. In addition, the participants will determine who is the
best in professional Arctic skill competitions, including building a fire in
winter, cooking fish soup on a fire, and dressing skins.
The cultural
programme of the championship will include a premiere screening of the film White
Angel of the Tundra, a meeting with students from the Arktika experimental
boarding school, and a visit to the Pyanov Neryungri Museum of the History of
South Yakutia.
The events of
the International Traditional Reindeer Herding Championship and the
International Conference ‘Sustainable Development of Reindeer Herding Amidst
Global Changes in the Arctic’ are being organized in the Republic of Sakha
(Yakutia) city of Neryungri and village of Iengra by the Association of World
Reindeer Herders and the Ministry for the Development of the Far East and Arctic.
The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s chairmanship.
Russia is the
chair of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023. One of Russia’s main priorities is to
develop human capital in the region, including the Indigenous Peoples of the
North. Russia devotes special attention to maintaining the sustainability and
viability of the peoples of the North, promoting measures to adapt them to
climate change, improving people’s well-being, health, education, and quality
of life, and ensuring sustainable socioeconomic development throughout the
region. The Russian side has initiated projects to digitalize the cultural and
linguistic heritage of the Indigenous Peoples of the North, develop renewable
energy sources, create an international Arctic research station that runs on
carbon-free energy, and ensure biosecurity in the Arctic. In addition, Russia
is preparing draft proposals on the traditional medicine of Indigenous Peoples
and the development of creative industries in the Arctic, and is working on an initiative
to create Digital Museums of the Arctic.
The Roscongress Foundation is a socially oriented non-financial development institution and a major organizer of nationwide and international conventions; exhibitions; and business, public, youth, sporting, and cultural events. It was established in pursuance of a decision by the President of the Russian Federation.
The Foundation was established in 2007 with the aim of facilitating the development of Russia’s economic potential, promoting its national interests, and strengthening the country’s image. One of the roles of the Foundation is to comprehensively evaluate, analyse, and cover issues on the Russian and global economic agendas. It also offers administrative services, provides promotional support for business projects and attracting investment, helps foster social entrepreneurship and charitable initiatives.
Each year, the Foundation’s events draw participants from 208 countries and territories, with more than 15,000 media representatives working on-site at Roscongress’ various venues. The Foundation benefits from analytical and professional expertise provided by 5,000 people working in Russia and abroad.
The Foundation works alongside various UN departments and other international organizations, and is building multi-format cooperation with 180 economic partners, including industrialists’ and entrepreneurs’ unions, financial, trade, and business associations from 81 countries worldwide, and 186 Russian public organizations, federal and legislative agencies, and federal subjects.
The Roscongress Foundation has Telegram channels in Russian t.me/Roscongress, English – t.me/RoscongressDirect, Spanish – t.me/RoscongressEsp and Arabic t.me/RosCongressArabic. Official website and Information and Analytical System of the Roscongress Foundation:roscongress.org.