On Monday, the UNO expert on indigenous peoples’ rights and the ex-President of the Youth Association of Finno-Ugric peoples Alexey Tsykarev spoke at the Arctic summit «Arctic Circle» in Reykjavik. In his welcoming report the expert noted internationally recognized positive examples of how the Arctic States support the indigenous peoples, but he also noted that the international community is still watching different cases of neglect of the indigenous peoples’ rights on free, prior and conscious consent. A. Tsykarev stressed the necessity to continue the dialogue between mining companies, the government and indigenous peoples.

“While promoting the economic rights of indigenous peoples, we should not forget about their cultural, linguistic and religious rights, material and spiritual heritage, There are three Arctic countries - Russia, the USA and Canada – that have not ratified the International Convention on the protection of intangible cultural heritage yet, but we are observing some progress in this direction. For example, Russia is establishing a list of native intangible heritage which includes monuments of the intangible heritage, using for that international criteria and methodologies”, - said A. Tsykarev.

The expert presented the results of the research of the UN Expert mechanism on the rights of indigenous peoples to the audience and called to all concerned persons to engage in a process of preparation of the world conference on indigenous peoples. According to A. Tsykarev’s opinion, the Declaration of indigenous peoples, which was adopted in Alta in June 2013, should form the basis of discussions at the forthcoming world forum.  

On Monday, the UNO expert on indigenous peoples’ rights and the ex-President of the Youth Association of Finno-Ugric peoples Alexey Tsykarev spoke at the Arctic summit «Arctic Circle» in Reykjavik. In his welcoming report the expert noted internationally recognized positive examples of how the Arctic States support the indigenous peoples, but he also noted that the international community is still watching different cases of neglect of the indigenous peoples’ rights on free, prior and conscious consent. A. Tsykarev stressed the necessity to continue the dialogue between mining companies, the government and indigenous peoples.

“While promoting the economic rights of indigenous peoples, we should not forget about their cultural, linguistic and religious rights, material and spiritual heritage, There are three Arctic countries - Russia, the USA and Canada – that have not ratified the International Convention on the protection of intangible cultural heritage yet, but we are observing some progress in this direction. For example, Russia is establishing a list of native intangible heritage which includes monuments of the intangible heritage, using for that international criteria and methodologies”, - said A. Tsykarev.

The expert presented the results of the research of the UN Expert mechanism on the rights of indigenous peoples to the audience and called to all concerned persons to engage in a process of preparation of the world conference on indigenous peoples. According to A. Tsykarev’s opinion, the Declaration of indigenous peoples, which was adopted in Alta in June 2013, should form the basis of discussions at the forthcoming world forum.  

At the same time A. Tsykarev expressed his respect to all proposals of the Alta Declaration, noting that, since recent times, it has become an official United Nations documents.

Answering the question about the situation with the support of indigenous peoples in Russia, A. Tsykarev noted the state's efforts to improve the condition of indigenous peoples, but still agreed to point out the weak spots of the legislation – it is the law on fisheries, hunting and the use of natural resources. “We still have a lot o work to be done in order to guarantee indigenous peoples’ right for stable development and their right to lead a traditional way of life”.

In conclusion of his report, the expert thanked the President of Iceland Olaf Grimsson on behalf of the UN Expert mechanism for the great contribution in the discussion of different problems and issues and for collaboration inArctic. In response, the President called the efforts of the UNO and the international community to promote rights of indigenous peoples significant and expressed his full support.

Plenary discussion on the rights of indigenous peoples at the «Arctic Circle» summit was moderated by a Professor of international law and human rights of the University of Akureyri Gudmundar Alfredson, who was a member of a working group on indigenous populations in 1980s-1990s. The group prepared a plan for the UNO Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. The representative of the indigenous peoples of Alaska and a member of the U.S. Commission on the exploration of the Arctic Edward Ytta also made a report.