RAIPON: Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North!

The Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) is an association of small populations of indigenous peoples in the North, Siberia and Far East Russian Federation. It was founded in 1990, creating an umbrella organisation for 41 ethnic indigenous peoples including Evenki, Tozhu, Tofa and Soyot. These groups are culturally distinct and diverse in terms of livelihoods connected to Arctic natural resources. Their total population is approximately 270,000, within Russian North, Siberia and the Far East, occupying around 60 percent of total Russian territory. The RAIPON enjoys the status of NGO, promoting human rights and defending the legal interests of its members concerning rights to land and natural resources. The organisation promotes indigenous self-governance and offers assistance to its members in accordance with international human rights law as well as with Russian national regulations on environmental, social, economic, cultural and educational issues. At the national level, RAIPON works closely with the Duma, the Russian Parliament, and with the Government of the Russian Federation on legislation having affecting its members. In the Arctic Council, the RAIPON acts as one of the six Permanent Participants, and contributes to the functioning of the Arctic Council, including working groups, and also participates in several international processes. RAIPON enjoys a special consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council, allowing it to participate regularly in sessions related to indigenous issues.