Nornickel presents projects for preserving the languages of Taimyr’s indigenous peoples

An interregional scientific and practical conference titled "Preservation and Development of the Languages of Russia’s Indigenous Minority Peoples" was held in Krasnoyarsk.

During the event, Nornickel showcased its initiatives aimed at preserving the languages of the indigenous peoples of the Taimyr Peninsula. On a voluntary basis, the company supports the preservation of the languages, cultures, and traditional crafts of indigenous minority peoples—not only in the Krasnoyarsk Territory but also in the Zabaykalsky Territory and the Murmansk Region.

Anfisa Nikiforova, head of Nornickel’s department for relations with the indigenous minority peoples of the North, explained that the company’s engagement with these groups is rooted in respect for their customs, traditions, and culture. This ongoing collaboration covers all areas of mutual interest and follows a comprehensive approach.

The company’s efforts to preserve and develop these languages focus on three key areas. The first is publishing: Nornickel supports the production of literary collections, dictionaries, and educational materials. The second involves the creation of "language nests"—projects that immerse children in their native language environment from an early age to help them acquire conversational skills. The third area entails organizing various contests, festivals, and folklore-related events in partnership with representatives of the indigenous peoples.

Digital tools are also playing an increasingly important role in the preservation and development of these languages. Since 2022, Nornickel has collaborated with Nikolai Aprosimov—creator of "Ayana," a unique voice-based translator for the Evenki language—to develop translation tools for four languages spoken by indigenous peoples in Taimyr. Each tool currently contains over 10,000 words, and a key feature of the technology is that it functions even in areas without internet access.

The next step will be the integration of mobile games into these translation tools. Nikiforova also spoke about the "World of Taimyr" grant competition, which was established as part of Nornickel’s five-year program to support Indigenous peoples, launched in 2020. Three rounds of the competition have been held to date, with a fourth scheduled for 2027.

"We are planning the fourth competition for 2027, and I invite everyone to participate; one of the categories is open to applications from Indigenous representatives from neighboring territories, as it aims to foster an exchange of experience between regions," said Anfisa Nikiforova. 

Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished