History of Sakhalin Indigenous People

Useful links

Indigenous People Settlements

International Financial Corporation (World Bank subdivision focusing on the private sector) on the preparation of the Sakhalin Indigenous Minorities Development Plan:

‘Since most consultations took place during the winter months, a special focus was on enabling the most disadvantaged members of the local community, such as senior citizens, to attend. Vehicles were provided to those who needed them, and younger community members escorted the elderly. Where possible, the consultations were timed to start after the end of the day’s fishing trips. Time was allocated for the participants to share their problems and concerns. The organisers made sure that all those present were treated respectfully, and efforts were made to reach a consensus. As a result, the meetings turned out extremely long, but people felt that their presence mattered’.

See International Finance Corporation. Stakeholder Engagement: A Good Practice Handbook for Companies Doing Business in Emerging Markets 

Traditional Economic Activities Support Programme

The Traditional Economic Activities Support Programme has been developed to solve the employment problems of indigenous minorities and to ensure economic development taking into account SIM traditional lifestyle, traditional economic activities and crafts. The representatives of indigenous minorities have also emphasised the importance of traditional resource use activities (fishing, deer herding, hunting, wild plants gathering, dog breeding, folk crafts) for preservation of their cultural heritage.

Programme Goals:

• develop and preserve traditional forms of economic activity of the Sakhalin indigenous minorities;
• create new jobs and economic development opportunities for indigenous minorities on the basis of the available experience and skills;
• support economic development of indigenous minorities communities and other SIM associations by granting them an opportunity to enter the market relations and use microcredits (loans);
• contribute to the provision by successful enterprises of the Sakhalin indigenous minorities of social benefits and support to their local communities; and
• assist in achieving competitiveness of indigenous minorities communities and other SIM associations in domestic and foreign markets.

The Traditional Economic Activities Support Programme comprises three subcomponents:

• Self-sufficiency subcomponent;
• Initiative for support of SIM communities and other SIM associations — Business Planning subcomponent; and
• Microcredit subcomponent.

Programme framework and subcomponents:

• Micro-Credit Fund 
• Regulation on the Traditional Economic Activities Support Programme CommitteeRegulation on the Traditional Economic Activities Support Programme FOR 2011
• Development Plan Traditional Economic Activities Support Programme Committee Working Plan for 2011
• Regulation on the Traditional Economic Activities Support Programme Expert group of the Sakhalin Indigenous Minorities Development Plan for 2011–2015
• Taken decisions

Documentation

• 2011
• 2012
• 2013
• 2014
• 2015

/ Achievements

Received the main award in the all-Russian Corporate Philanthropy Leaders contest in nomination The Best Programme for Corporate Philanthropy Policy and Company’s Social Investments Principles

Winner of Vitus Bering International Award

Winner of social investments contest “Corporate Donor of Russia – 2008”

First prize at the Far Eastern International Festival of Indigenous People