International forum 'Public-private partnership in the field of sustainable development of indigenous peoples' was held in Murmansk. Its main objective is to create mechanisms for interaction between indigenous peoples and business and to raise the standards of social corporate responsibility. The participants discussed tools and practices that would help maintain a balance between the interests of indigenous peoples and business, and how a public-private partnership mechanism could play a role in this.

The forum, held in Murmansk in October, was attended by more than 200 delegates from Russia and other countries: representatives of federal and regional authorities, businesses, indigenous peoples' associations, international organisations, as well as reindeer herders, heads of clan communities in Taimyr, Yamal, Chukotka and other regions. The event was part of the plan for Russia's chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023.

'The Russian Chairmanship of the Arctic Council has consistently pursued a policy of improving the well-being of northerners, including indigenous peoples, and promoting the socio-economic development of the Arctic region. The Murmansk Region, a territory traditionally inhabited by the Sami people, is a good example of engagement with indigenous peoples,' said Nikolay Korchunov, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry and Chairman of the Senior Officials Committee of the Arctic Council.

Above all, the Murmansk Region supports indigenous peoples by creating new areas for their activities. The region not only provides grants for individual Sami self-fulfilment but also creates entire ethnographic complexes, one of which will soon open in Tuloma.

Sami organisations and communities have the opportunity to receive grants for socially important initiatives. This year, for instance, more than RUB 2.2 mn have been allocated for three projects: 'Cultural Code of National Traditions: Rebranding in Modern Trends,' 'Ajyanna tedtvudt' (Ancestral Knowledge) and 'Creation of a Computer Game for Learning the Sami Language.'

The Murmansk Region also allocates quotas for traditional fishing. About RUB 65 mn from the federal and regional budgets have been allocated for the development of reindeer breeding in 2022. At the same time, the region has ensured a guaranteed demand for reindeer herders' products: almost all school canteens in the region have reindeer meat on their menus.

The participants of the forum were also able to appreciate its fine taste: they were treated to Sami food at the Sam-Syyt reindeer breeding centre. In the kuvaks, portable huts decorated by the Puaz Sami artisans, you could see traditional handicrafts made by local craftsmen.

Igor Barinov, Head of the Federal Agency for Nationality Affairs, stressed that the experience and practices of the Murmansk Region would be further extended to other projects and regions.

During the plenary session, forum participants discussed the main models of state regulation of relations between indigenous peoples and industrial companies, as well as corporate strategies and forms of business participation in indigenous development through agreements with the authorities.

'The relationship between business and indigenous peoples particularly affects corporate strategies. These include sustainable development, good governance, human rights, support and food security for particularly vulnerable groups, environment, climate, biodiversity and more. A separate issue is the formation of a "social licence" for industrial activities on traditional lands, including in the context of the need to take into account corporate standards of financial institutions and supply chain actors,' noted Igor Barinov.

Best practices in the relationship between business and indigenous peoples were the topic of discussion at the round table 'Reducing the impact of industrial activities on indigenous peoples' opportunities for sustainable development.'

'Broadcasting effective regional practices on a universal expert platform that consolidates all stakeholders in the relationship may be very much in demand in the very near future,' believes Alexander Novyukhov, Senator, Representative of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area in the Federation Council of Yugra.