10th Anniversary celebrations of Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North

May 2000

Press release

10th Anniversary celebrations of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) were held in Moscow on May 12-16, 2000, with over 250 indigenous participants from Russia and about 70 foreign guests.

The ceremonial events started with the anniversary plenary session "Past Decade – Basis for Development in 21st Century", opened according to ancient traditions of northern peoples by the Chairman of RAIPON Elders’ Council – Mrs. Maya Ettyryntyna. The former USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev, the ambassadors and diplomats of Arctic countries, representatives of Russian Government and Parliament, UN agencies (UNEP, World Intellectual Property Organisation); Executive Secretaries of the Arctic Council Programs (AMAP, CAFF), representatives of international indigenous brother organisations (Inuit Circumpolar Conference, Saami Council, Aleut International Association) and Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat, officially greeted and passed their congratulations to RAIPON.

The press-conference of RAIPON with the participation of President Mr. Sergey Kharyuchi, ex-presidents of RAIPON Mr.Vladimir Sangi and Mr. Yeremey Aypin, as well as the Chairman of RF State Committee for Northern Affairs Mr. Vladimir Goman, was held during the break in the plenary session. Journalists from leading Russian TV channels, radio stations, magazines and newspapers, as well as journalists from Arctic countries took part.

The following events were also held during the anniversary celebrations:

• Seminar on "Indigenous Peoples and the Environment in the Russian Arctic" (SIPERA III), organised by RAIPON with the support of Danish-Greenlandic Initiative, UNEP/GRID-Arendal and Indigenous Peoples' Secretariat;
  
• Second International Workshop "Priorities for Solution of the Key Problems of Indigenous Peoples of the North in Russia", organised with the support of International Arctic Science Committee and Russian Academy of Sciences;
  
• Meeting of RAIPON leaders with research staff of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences;
  
• RAIPON Coordinating Council meeting, where four new non-governmental organisations of indigenous peoples of Khakassiya Republic and Altai Republic, Veps and Inuits peoples were elected new members of RAIPON;
  
• Youth conference with the discussion of indigenous youth problems;
  
• PC and Internet courses for indigenous peoples from the regions;
  
• Cultural festival "Sun of the North" with participation of folk ensembles, indigenous soloists and elders. Performances took place at the Conference Hall of the Council of Federation and in the Central House of Cinema in Moscow. They were accompanied by exhibitions of the crafts and traditional decorative arts, paintings, carvings and photos.