Russia to spend over RUB 1.3 bln on support for indigenous peoples prior to 2025

The funds will be allocated to improve the accessibility of social and utility infrastructure, develop education and culture, and preserve the traditional economic activities of indigenous minorities of the North, Siberia, and the Far East, TASS news agency reports citing Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs (FAEA) Alexander Nenashev.

“The state programme envisages the provision of more than RUB 1.3 billion in targeted support for the regions in which indigenous peoples reside is envisaged prior to 2025”, he said.

Nenashev added that work is being carried out to support the rights of indigenous peoples at the international level as well.

“At present, our agency along with the Association of Indigenous Minorities of the North, Siberia, and the Far East is proposing the implementation of the ‘Children of the Arctic. Preschool Education’ project in which one of the top goals is a joint assessment with experts from Arctic Council member nations of the best practices in matters concerning preschool education for the children of indigenous peoples”, Nenashev said.

Such practices should provide for the studying of national and ethnic history, native and state language as well as obtaining and preserving knowledge about traditional natural resource use.