The 7th Congress of the Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation (RAIPON) will be held in Salekhard, from 27 to 30 March.

The Congress is organised by RAIPON and the Yamolo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug government. Around 600 people will take part in the event, including delegates from the regions of the North, Siberia and the Far East of Russia inhabited by indigenous peoples, as well as representatives of federal and regional authorities. Foreign guests representing structures such as the UN, Arctic Council and aboriginal organisations from other countries are expected to attend. Scientists, experts, public figures and media representatives will also take part in the Congress.

Report To United Nations Says Russia Disregards Rights Of Indigenous Peoples

The Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North files a report with the United Nations Human Rights Council claiming that Russia has failed to live up to a number of its own pledges to improve conditions for Russian indigenous peoples.

This joint submission has been prepared by RAIPON, the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, an indigenous peoples’ organisation in consultative status with ECOSOC, representing 41 indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation, in collaboration with IWGIA, the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, an NGO in consultative status with ECOSOC that  supports indigenous peoples' organisations globally, and with assistance from the Institute for Ecology and Action Anthropology (INFOE), Cologne, Germany. In this submission, we look into the situation of Russia's indigenous small-numbered peoples, which while together numbering only approximately 260,000 people, traditionally inhabit around two thirds of the land mass of the Russian Federation.

One day before the opening of the Arctic Council meeting in Sweden, Russian authorities moved to suspend the activities of RAIPON, the country’s main organisation representing the Indigenous Peoples of the Russian North. Basing their decision on an interpretation of inconsistencies in the organisation’s bylaws, this seems to be a thinly veiled attempt by the Russian government to silence the voices of Indigenous Peoples who are speaking out against the dangers of drilling for oil in the Russian Arctic.

Concerning the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON)

The Senior Arctic Officials and the Permanent Participants of the Arctic Council express concern about the absence of RAIPON from the work of the Arctic Council as a result of the decision taken by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation to suspend the activities of RAIPON until April 2013 and as an interim measure request the SAO of the Russian Federation in close cooperation with RAIPON and the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation to facilitate, as appropriate, the fulfillment of RAIPON’s important role as a permanent participant in the Arctic Council.

Canada's term as head of the Arctic Council could get interesting before it even begins after Russia shut down a group that represents its northern aboriginals at international meetings.

Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, who sits on the council and is an Inuk herself, says Canada is concerned about the move and has joined other members in "expressing their concern."