Tag: far east

  • Historic International Conference on Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Russian Far East Held on Orcas IslandInternational Conference on Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East and the Future of Russia Held on the Island”) reports on a recent international conference focused on the rights and future of Indigenous peoples in Russia’s northern regions.

    Historic International Conference on Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Russian Far East Held on Orcas IslandInternational Conference on Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East and the Future of Russia Held on the Island”) reports on a recent international conference focused on the rights and future of Indigenous peoples in Russia’s northern regions.

    From April 14 to 17, 2025, a historic international conference took place on Orcas Island, Washington State, USA, on the traditional lands of the Lummi Nation. The event focused on the current situation and future of the Indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Russian Far East in contemporary and post-Putin Russia. It was organized by the Batani International Foundation, the International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia, the Indigenous Russia platform, and Russian-Speaking America for Democracy in Russia.

    The conference brought together Indigenous representatives from Russia’s northern regions, members of Russian civil society, scholars, politicians, human rights defenders, activists, journalists, and international partners. Together, they engaged in open dialogue on Indigenous rights, Russian imperial policy, decolonization, and the democratic future of Russia. A cornerstone of the event was the adoption of a landmark document titled the Orcas Island Declaration: A Statement of Reconciliation and Respect.

    April 15 – Day One

    The first day featured four key sessions:

    1. The Situation of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East
      Representatives of the Itelmen, Sámi, Dolgan, Udege, Shor, and other Indigenous groups shared accounts of the rights violations and challenges faced in their regions.
    2. Contemporary Challenges
      This session addressed the effects of repression, rights violations, and environmental exploitation, along with insights from international institutions on legal protection and advocacy.
    3. The Future of Russia: Decolonization and Self-Governance
      Experts discussed possible models for a post-imperial Russian state that would respect Indigenous rights and self-determination.
    4. Collaboration with Pro-Democracy Movements
      Participants reviewed the current state of cooperation between Indigenous organizations and Russia’s democratic opposition, proposing practical steps to strengthen dialogue and coordination.

    April 16 – Day Two

    The second day was devoted to the collective development of the conference’s final document. After intensive discussions and consultations, participants adopted the Orcas Island Declaration: A Statement of Reconciliation and Respect.

    Adoption of the Orcas Island Declaration

    The declaration serves as a foundational document that:

    • Condemns colonial policies, forced assimilation, and repression against Indigenous peoples in Russia;
    • Emphasizes the need to restore historical justice;
    • Commits to collaboration with democratic forces for a future based on equality and human rights;
    • Calls for the creation of a permanent dialogue platform;
    • Sets concrete goals, including monitoring rights violations, offering legal assistance, developing legislative initiatives for Indigenous rights and land/resource protection, and advancing research and education projects.

    Inspired by reconciliation efforts in Canada, the U.S., Australia, and Norway, the declaration urges Russia to undertake a similar path—acknowledging its colonial legacy, restoring respect for Indigenous communities, and enacting institutional reforms. The document is more than a conference outcome; it is a moral and political guidepost for those advocating for the rights of Russia’s Indigenous peoples.

    In the afternoon, the Lummi Nation hosted a community event for conference participants and residents. Speakers included representatives of the Native American organization Se’Si’Le, as well as Pavel Sulyandziga, Tyan Zaochnaya, and Vladislav Inozemtsev. This gathering symbolized international solidarity and underscored the shared histories of colonization and the global movement for Indigenous rights.

    April 17 – Day Three

    On the final day, conference participants visited the Lummi Nation reservation and met with members of the Tribal Council. This visit was both a gesture of respect and gratitude and a first step toward building a lasting partnership between Indigenous peoples of Russia and the United States.

    The conference marked a significant milestone toward envisioning a new Russia—democratic, inclusive, and respectful of every nation’s right to self-determination and dignity.

  • The European Parliament Discussed the Issues of Indigenous Peoples

    The European Parliament Discussed the Issues of Indigenous Peoples

    On February 4, 2025, the European Parliament in Brussels hosted a discussion titled “Land Exploitation, Oppression of Peoples: Discrimination and Persecution of Indigenous Peoples of Siberia, the North, and the Far East.” This event was organized by the Anti-Discrimination Center “Memorial” (Brussels) in collaboration with Lithuanian MEP Rasa Juknevičienė. It continued the partnership initiated on October 25, 2023, during the event “Resisting Russian Colonial Pressure: Voices of Different Peoples” held in the European Parliament.

    Moderated by Rasa Juknevičienė and Stefania Kulaeva from ADC “Memorial,” the discussion featured speakers including Vladislav Tannagashov, a founding member of the International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia (ICIPR); Mark Zdor, a native of Chukotka, ICIPR member, and anti-war activist; Dirk Schuebel, Head of the Russia Division at the European External Action Service; and Anastasia Crickley, an expert on minority rights and former chair of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The event began with a screening of the first part of the documentary “Shor Gold.”

    Speakers highlighted their support for Ukraine and condemned Russian aggression. They detailed how Russian authorities are destroying the habitats of indigenous peoples, repressing protesters, and decimating male populations in native villages through mobilization, turning residents into “cannon fodder.” Both primary speakers and other participants emphasized the discriminatory nature of Russia’s national policies, including the suppression of the cultures, languages, and religions of minority peoples.

    Dirk Schuebel expressed support for Ukraine and activists opposing Russian aggression, affirming readiness to back such initiatives. MEP Rasa Juknevičienė discussed a European Parliament resolution emphasizing historical responsibility and the connection between history and current issues. She shared her personal experience overcoming Russia’s imperial influence on the Baltic states, fighting for Lithuania’s liberation, and thanked Ukraine for its courage in battling for independence and democracy.

    An ADC “Memorial” expert discussed protecting indigenous rights as part of anti-discrimination efforts, expressing support for organizations like the ICIPR, which have been labeled as extremists and terrorists in Russia merely for peaceful advocacy. ADC “Memorial” unequivocally condemns such repression of indigenous rights defenders and minority rights advocates, expressing solidarity with their principled human rights and anti-war stance.

  • Disproportionate Mobilization of Indigenous Peoples in Khabarovsk Krai in raw figures

    Disproportionate Mobilization of Indigenous Peoples in Khabarovsk Krai in raw figures

    Author: Maria Vyushkova


    On August 1, 2024, a study was published by the publication “Important Stories” and the independent analytical group Conflict Intelligence Team. Based on data about payments to military personnel and their families, both teams managed to calculate the number of contract soldiers and mobilized personnel recruited from autumn 2022 to April 2024.

    According to these calculations, 4,496 people were mobilized in Khabarovsk Krai.

    How many of them were representatives of the region’s indigenous peoples?

    We can find the answer to this question in the speech of the President of the Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North of Khabarovsk Krai Lyubov Odzyal. She delivered this speach at an event called “Special military operation: Contribution of the Indigenous Peoples of the North and Far East”, which was held in Moscow on April 30, 2024, as part of the XIX international exhibition and fair “Treasures of the North”. Lyubov Odzyal stated that 200 representatives of the indigenous peoples of the Khabarovsk Territory were mobilized.

    According to the 2021 census, the population of the Khabarovsk Territory is 1,292,944 people. The indigenous peoples (Nanai, Negidal, Nivkh, Oroch, Udege, Ulchi, Evenki, Evens) number 21,129 people.

    This means that the number of mobilized from the non-indigenous population of the region is approximately 34 people per 10 thousand residents.

    As for the indigenous population the number is about 95 per the same 10 thousand.

    The numbers speak for themselves. Representatives of the indigenous peoples were indeed taken much more often.

    The consequences of this are already visible. In the Udege village of Gvasyugi, only 211 people live according to the census. Five of the mobilized people are now known to have died.

    War and disproportionate mobilization are a direct threat to the future of the indigenous peoples of Khabarovsk Krai.

    References:  

    https://istories.media/stories/2024/08/01/za-dengi-da

    https://vk.com/video-72178198_456239674

    https://ok.ru/video/7419024050720

  • Greed wins: gold miners massively pollute Russian rivers

    Greed wins: gold miners massively pollute Russian rivers

    In June, 231 cases of river pollution caused by suspended substances downstream from placer gold mining sites were documented on the Siberian and the Far East rivers. This pollution extended over 10,761 kilometres, as reported in an interim analysis by the Center for Satellite Monitoring and Civil Control (CSMiGK) available to the “Zolotari” project. Environmentalists describe it as the most extensive pollution from gold mining activities observed in recent years.

    As mentioned by Kedr.Media and Alexander Kolotov, the satellite images decrypted and analyzed by CSMiGK specialists revealed that between June 1 and June 30, there were 105 cases of river pollution in the Amur region, spanning 3,352 kilometres; 43 cases in Krasnoyarsk Krai, covering 2,750 kilometres; 36 cases in the Kemerovo region, covering 2,909 kilometres; 27 cases in Zabaykalsky Krai, spanning 1,444 kilometres; 14 cases in the Jewish Autonomous Region, covering 266 kilometres; and 6 cases in Khabarovsk Krai, spanning 40 kilometres.

    “The extensive nature of these environmental violations on the gold-bearing rivers of Siberia and the Far East clearly shows that greed is triumphing over nature, and the state has yet to counter this,” commented Alexander Kolotov, director of the “Conservation of Siberia and the Far East” foundation, regarding the satellite monitoring results. “If hundreds of gold mining licenses are issued each year without the ability to monitor their use, the outcome is predictable: isolated inspections and fines simply lose their effectiveness.”

    Kolotov explained that as placer gold mining became highly profitable due to rising gold prices, gold miners largely ignored environmental restrictions, assuming that the potential profits would more than cover any fines. “This is why we see murky streams stretching downstream from gold mines for tens of kilometres almost without interruption in the satellite images,” noted the environmentalist. “This situation can only occur when gold mining waste is intentionally discharged into the river without regard for environmental oversight by the state.”

    From May 15 (the start of satellite monitoring) to June 30, the Center for Satellite Monitoring and Civil Control recorded a total of 308 instances of river pollution with suspended substances downstream from placer gold mining sites, with the total length of identified pollution reaching 13,544 kilometres.

    Photo by abnews.ru

    Also, it is important to heed this observation by environmentalists: “Murky streams extend downstream from gold mines for tens of kilometres almost uninterrupted,” as noted by the environmentalist. “This is only possible when gold mining waste is intentionally discharged into the river without any consideration for environmental oversight by the state.” Another significant statement is: “Gold miners have largely stopped complying with environmental regulations because they anticipate that potential profits will outweigh any fines.”

    This means a long-term loss of drinking water and fish in these rivers for indigenous peoples. And not just during the years when gold mining cooperatives are active on the rivers, but for hundreds of years. Fish cannot reproduce in murky streams. As is well known, the fish stocks of Alaska’s gold-bearing rivers that do not flow into the sea have not recovered since the gold rush.

    Therefore, it is no surprise that Rosprirodnadzor (Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation) imposed such a large fine on Norilsk Nickel, with the largest portion attributed to potential damage to aquatic biological resources.

    It’s easier to deal with a large violator who is always in the public eye. But gold mining cooperatives are only fined small amounts, and only after the discovery of some pipe discharging waste into the river. This is one of thousands of such pipes. And it’s generally difficult to detect and prove the mass instances of machinery entering the rivers.

    However, the Center for Satellite Monitoring and Civil Control has recorded hundreds of violations and thousands of kilometres of murky water in rivers downstream from licensed sites.

    This is a serious reason for indigenous peoples, along with concerned local populations, to appeal to the Government and the State Duma with a demand to improve the relevant laws on placer gold mining. These laws should regulate the issuance of hundreds of licenses and prevent the mass pollution of rivers, which causes enormous and potentially long-term damage to aquatic biological resources and the nation’s food security.

    Many regional indigenous organizations and local environmental groups from Murmansk to Kamchatka could support such a public initiative.

    Photo by Alexey Gribkov