Norilsk Nickel and the Federal Agency for Nationality Affairs will strengthen their support to the indigenous peoples of the North

Today, an agreement was signed at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) between Norilsk Nickel and the Federal Agency for Nationality Affairs (FANA of Russia).

The document was signed by Igor Barinov, Head of the FANA of Russia, and Andrey Grachev, Vice-President of Norilsk Nickel for federal and regional programs.

This is an additional agreement to the document that has been in force since 2023. It is aimed at expanding the Norilsk Nickel’s support measures to the indigenous peoples and is driven by international and corporate standards on the indigenous peoples’ rights and the social responsibility of business, as well as by the growing public attention to the indigenous peoples.
In particular, the company will finance a number of events and activities to ensure the exercising of the rights and the assistance in the sustainable development of the indigenous peoples, as well as the preservation and development of their culture and economy. 

“In the context of industrial development, indigenous minorities are among the most vulnerable groups. Their settlement and livelihood systems are critically dependent on the preservation of traditional habitats that may be affected by development projects. For this reason, they become specially protected by the law in accordance with international, national and corporate standards,” said Igor Barinov, Head of the FANA of Russia. “The agreement between the FANA and Norilsk Nickel provides funding for a number of projects, including the educational, cultural, and scientific ones, the participation in international cooperation, etc. It is important that not only the indigenous communities living in the regions of the company’s operations benefit from this, but also all-Russian communities.” 

Norilsk Nickel has long been implementing the program to support indigenous minorities. It is included in the company’s 10-year Development Strategy until 2030. Preserving the traditional lifestyle, supporting the economy and culture, and protecting their rights are important components of the company’s social activities.
“The Taimyr Peninsula is home to the indigenous peoples of the North, including the Dolgans, Nganasans, Nenets, Enеts, and Evenks. Considering the difficult living conditions in the Far North, we continue the tradition established in the Soviet days and provide assistance, which has turned from simple patronage to the development programs worked out jointly. Our attitude towards the indigenous peoples is not one-time actions, not attempts taken just to gain their favor, but an honest, transparent and conscious position aimed at the development of corporate ethno-culture,” said Andrey Grachev, Vice President of Nornickel. “The objective of the company’s work is preserving and developing all cultures Norilsk Nickel comes into contact with. Our goal is to establish partner relationships with all the parties involved. The cooperation is mutual, officially established and carried out together with regional and municipal authorities, the FANA of Russia, as well as with the associations of indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North and directly with local communities.”

For information 
Norilsk Nickel has adopted its Indigenous Rights Policy. A new version has been worked out and is under discussion, which recognizes the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples and describe due diligence activities in details.
The agreement concluded by Norilsk Nickel with the associations of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North in 2020 is for five years, its financing estimates at 2-bn rubles, and it includes over 40 events. In 2021 to 2023, additional 100 mn rubles were allocated annually through the Coordination Council of Indigenous Peoples at the Polar Branch of the Norilsk Nickel company to support the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North. The support plan was made taking into account the desires of 36 local communities living in the Far North. It includes the investments in the development of the economy of traditional natural resource management (meat and fish processing workshops, refrigerators, purchase of goods produced by local communities), as well as the investments in improving the quality of life in villages (construction of houses, village first-aid stations, houses of culture, sports grounds, re-equipment of schools), in the development of culture, language preservation and education.
The new agreement with the FANA of Russia is expected to continue the Norilsk Nickel’s policy aimed at supporting the indigenous peoples of the North, jointly solving their problems and respecting their rights.