Indigenous peoples on Russia’s Taimyr Peninsula will receive new funding to preserve their long-standing culture. 28 different projects in the Russian Arctic benefit from the grants. At the same time, tourism and environmental protection are to be promoted. The winners are determined on the occasion of a competition. The competition is organised and financed by the mining company Nornickel.
The first competition to obtain a financial grant has just ended. Winning tribal communities, nonprofit organizations and public agencies will receive support for projects that preserve long-standing traditions. In addition, the development of areas where the indigenous minorities of the Taimyr Peninsula still live traditionally will be supported. The company will support social development to be implemented in 2021-2022. The grant pool amounted to RUB 46 million (EUR 500,000).
“For our community, participating in this competition was an opportunity to receive support and train mentors, as well as gain new experiences,” says Alexander Shirokikh, chairman of the Northern Indian Minority Tribal Community Iydyna, which means “moonlight.”
“Of course we want to win and get a scholarship, but just taking part has been useful: The support of the experts has helped us turn our idea into a proper application. Things like this are important for our organization,” he added.
“The competition and the support of public initiatives really make a difference for Taimyr’s non-profit and community organizations,” says Tatiana Druppova, Deputy Head of Education and Culture of the Taimyrsky Dolgano-Nenetsky Municipality.
“The grants will not only help preserve long-standing traditions and practices, but will also help develop the areas by creating jobs, promoting tourism and developing distance learning.”
Grants will be awarded to 6 projects from tribal communities, 2 projects from nonprofit organizations, and 20 projects from community and public agencies. The public initiatives of the winners deal with a variety of social issues: Revival of the national languages, creation of a culture of environmental protection and implementation of environmental campaigns, development of infrastructure in Taimyr settlements, preservation of historical heritage, etc.
The award ceremony will take place in April on the occasion of Taimyr’s 90th anniversary and the Day of the Reindeer Herder. Starting June 1, the winners will bring their projects to life.
Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal
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