Льыоравэтльан - The Interregional Seminar ''Legislating Process in Russia and Rights of Indigenous Peoples on Land and Natural Resources''

The seminar, organized by LIENIP, was held in “Sosnoviy Bor” resort (Kemerovo) from 11 to 14 March. 29 representatives of indigenous peoples from Kemerovskaya Oblast, Khakasia, Altai and Karelia republics, Altaisky Kray and Krasnoyarsky Kray took part in it. The seminar was conducted by well-known lawyers-ecologists – Olga Yakovleva, a member of Moscow Regional Board of Attorneys, the Honorable Barrister of Russia, Elvira Grishchenko – chief executive of the Autonomous non-commercial organization “Ecological Legal Center “Right on Life” (Moscow), Ivan Iutin – lawyer of “Ecological Legal Center “Right on Life” (Moscow).

The program of the seminar , organized by LIENIP, included lectures: “Constitutional and Lawful Guarantees of Rights of People. Analysis and Methods of Complex Application of the Articles of the Constitution of the Russian Federation and Federal Laws”; “Rights of Indigenous Peoples on Land and Natural Resources. Convention 169 and Tendencies of Changes of Legislation in the Field of Law on Natural Resources” (analysis of the Forest and Water Codes); “Land Laws. Practice of Application”; “Establishment of Indigenous Communities – an Efficient Method of Protection of Rights of Indigenous Peoples on Land and Natural Resources” (analysis of the Federal Law “About General Principles of Organizing of Communities of Small Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East); “Analysis and Practice of Application of the Federal Law “About Guarantees of the Rights of Small Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East”; “Lawful Guarantees of the Right of the Citizens to Participate in Legislating Process. Experience of Legal Activities of Indigenous Peoples for Protection of the Constitutional Right on Traditional Lifestyle and Original Environment”; “Legal Methods of Protection of Civil Rights. Analysis of Laws”; “Constitutional Right of Citizens on Information. Analysis of Laws, Methods of Application”; “Judicial Protection of Rights of Indigenous Peoples on Traditional Lifestyle and Original Environment”; “Review and Analysis of the Most Socially Important Bills Being Considered in the State Duma”; “Analysis and Application of the Federal Law “About Territories of Traditional Land-use” and other lectures on the subject of the seminar, as well as practical trainings, discussions and consultations of indigenous representatives with the lawyers.
As the result of the seminar there was developed and signed the resolution with proposals to make amendments in the new Water and Forest Codes, to include in the draft of the new Federal Law “About Minerals” statements aiming to protect rights and interests of the citizens of Russia and indigenous peoples, with proposals on ratification of the Indigenous and Tribal People Convention No. 169 by the Russian Federation. The resolution will be sent to the Federation Council, the State Duma of the Russian Federation and other state authority bodies.

On 16th March in Bekovo village of the Belovo Region of Kemerovskaya Oblast a seminar for indigenous population of Belovo and Guryevsk regions was held. All the participants of the seminar had possibility to speak on the most important problems of their villages and receive advice of the specialists on the mechanisms of protection of their rights. On the result of the meeting there was written and signed the resolution, which has been sent to the Federation Council, State Duma and other authority bodies.