The Barents Indigenous Peoples’ Congress, February 4th 2010
The Working Group of Indigenous Peoples arranged the Barents Indigenous Peoples’ Congress on the 4th of February, 2010. Approximately 60 representatives of the indigenous peoples of the Barents Euro-Arctic Cooperation were gathered to discuss the role and influence of indigenous peoples in the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC).
The congress calls for a new mandate for the indigenous peoples’ representation in the Barents cooperation. A draft declaration from the congress has now been sent to the different indigenous organizations in the region, and after feedback from them it will be presented to the BEAC as a common declaration from the indigenous peoples of the region.
The Arctic Council’s concept of permanent participants is set as a minimum for indigenous peoples’ representation, but based on the recent development on the international arena concerning indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination the draft declaration from the congress takes a step forward from the Arctic Council’s concept.
The draft declaration from the congress states that each indigenous people in the Barents cooperation, the Nenets, the Saami and the Veps, shall be granted direct representation in BEAC and the Barents Regional Council as Permanent Participant. Each people shall be allowed to represent itself and shall be granted full and active participation within both councils and all their meetings and activities.
After receiving feedback from the indigenous organizations, the final declaration of the Barents Indigenous Peoples’ Congress will be presented to the higher levels of the Barents Euro-Arctic Cooperation, working its way up the agendas and probably ending up for decision on the 13th BEAC Foreign Ministers Meeting in 2011.
The Resolution from the Barents Indigenous Peoples’ Congress in Ferbuary 2010 is now available for download, as are other documents from the conference.
For more information, please contact the secretariat of the WGIP.
Working Group of Indigenous Peoples
The cooperation between the indigenous peoples was initiated by the Barents Regional Council already in 1993. The Working Group of Indigenous Peoples (WGIP) was established on a permanent basis by the Regional Council in 1995.
The WGIP consists of representatives of the Sami, the Nenets and the Vepsian peoples. The group is distinguished from other regional working groups by the fact that, in addition to its operational role as a working group, it also has an advisory role to both the Barents Council (foreign ministers) and the Regional Council (county governors). The Chair of the WGIP represents the indigenous peoples of the Region at the ministerial meetings of the BEAC. The WGIP also has a representative in the Regional Council and the Regional Committee.
Action Plan for Indigenous Peoples in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region 2009-2012
Complementary to the comprehensive Barents Programme adopted by the Regional Council, the WGIP has adopted an Action Plan for the period 2009-2012. It contains proposed measures and projects aming at development of the indigenous peoples’ communities and societies within the Barents Euro-Arctic region. The measures are focused on Nenets, Vepsian and Saami areas on the Russian side of the region. The Action Plan promotes measures within the fields of development of trade and business, language and media, health and social related issues, environment and culture.
Main goals of the Action Plan
- The overall goal for the indigenous peoples’ cooperation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region is
to secure indigenous peoples’ rights, foundation for trade, society, culture and language
through implementation of the Action Plan of Indigenous Peoples of the BEAR. The
indigenous peoples’ cooperation shall contribute to friendship and cooperation based on
equality, co-existence and tolerance between the peoples of the region. In the light of
Nenets, Saami and Veps’ status as indigenous peoples of the north, the cooperation shall
secure solid health- and living conditions, as well as cultural continuity, in the future.
To download the whole Action Plan (English version), please follow this link.
For more information about indigenous peoples’ activities in the Barents region, please see the BarentsIndigenous.org website.
Documents
Please find all documents of the Working Group here.
WGIP members
Sweden
- Mr. Lars-Anders Baer, Chair. (Substitute: Inger-Ann Omma)
Tel: +46 70 316 20 56, Fax: +46 971-558 93, +46 971 101 40
e-mail: lars-anders.baer@sametinget.se
Russia
Finland
Norway
Secretariat:
- Ms Tatiana Egorova
Barents Indigenous Peoples Office, Lovozero
Tel.: +7 8152 242140
e-mail: bipo.barents@gmail.com
Observer:
- Mr. Lars Miguel Utsi, Indigenous Peoples’ Adviser
International Barents Secretariat
Tel: +47 78 97 08 73, Mobile: +47 47 24 29 81, Fax: +47 78 97 70 79
e-mail: lars.miguel.utsi@beac.st