INFRASTRUCTURE AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
The Russian company Norilsk Nickel and the Kola Sami Association signed a cooperation agreement within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Andrey Grachev, Vice President for Federal and Regional Programs of Norilsk Nickel, spoke about the content of the document to Komsomolskaya Pravda.
– We decided to systematize our work. The Kola Sami have repeatedly turned to us for help before. And although we do not have industrial sites in the regions of compact residence of the Sami, we, as a socially responsible company, decided to meet halfway and accept a whole program of support, – said Grachev. – It provides for joint activities in the field of infrastructure projects, the reconstruction of the Sami open-air museum. In addition, there will be a large cultural part.
In particular, Norilsk Nickel will finance the creation of a unified Sami alphabet.
– Today there are four Sámi alphabets. They need to be brought to a common denominator. One people – one alphabet, – said the vice president of the company.
Earlier, Norilsk Nickel helped restore the written language of one of the smallest peoples of Taimyr – the Entsy. Only 278 representatives of this nationality now live on the peninsula. The company also translated and published songs of the Great Patriotic War in Nganasan, Dolgan and other languages of the northern indigenous peoples.
SMALL PEOPLES WILL NOT HAVE FOREIGN SPONSORS
The main task of cooperation of national communities with big business is the harmonization of large-scale modernization processes that are currently taking place in the Russian Arctic, said President of the Association of Indigenous and Small-Numbered Peoples of the North, Senator Grigory Ledkov.
– As part of the elimination of the consequences of the accident that occurred last year, we have been working with Norilsk Nickel from the first day. We are currently working on a draft law on ethnological expertise. This is a complex law that has been in the works for several years. And now, in the field, we intend to take important steps towards its implementation.
Grigory Ledkov added that the Association of Indigenous and Small-Numbered Peoples of the North has decided to refuse assistance from any foreign organizations in its activities.
– We are a truly political organization that participates in the adoption of laws, in public hearings. Therefore, we will strictly comply with the legislation on foreign agents and will not accept foreign aid. Moreover, in Russia today we have enough allies, sponsors, colleagues, – Ledkov said.
