Monitoring of Indigenous Law Enforcement in Evenkia, Russia

Abstract

AbstractNineteen native communities in the heart of Siberia united into the Arun Association in 1989 to guide their own destiny and sustain their traditional land use and lifestyle in the modern world. The same year, the International Labour Organization adopted a vital international legal document – the ILO Convention No. 169. Two years later, Arun Association, along with other indigenous groups and activists in the Soviet Union, supported the establishment of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) – the leading national organization of the indigenous movement in the Russian Federation and driver of aboriginal cooperation in the Arctic Council. This chapter reflects on an establishment of indigenous legislation since the democratization period (the 1990s) until present at the national level and its enforcement, presents analysis both of the legal acts and emerging legal conflicts, including the evaluation of the existing law suits by the indigenous communities in the courts of municipal, regional and federal levels. The analysis covers the reasons for ignorance of the provisions of the UN Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples (2007) and lack of implementation of rights proclaimed by ILO Convention 169. Acute conflicts over resource distribution and land use in Russia’s territory where indigenous peoples live urgently require actions that will ensure their priority access to the reindeer pastures, hunting grounds and aboriginal fishing.KeywordsRAIPONIndigenous legislationLaw enforcementEvenkiaLand use