ISSN 0798 1015

Vol. 38 (Nº 59) Year 2017. Page 23

Problems and prospects of interaction of indigenous small northern nations and extractive companies

Problemas y perspectivas de interacción de pequeñas naciones indígenas del norte y las empresas extractivas

Irina SAMSONOVA 1; Uliana BORISOVA 2; Aisa NEUSTROYEVA 3

Received: 14/08/2017 • Approved: 10/09/2017

Content

1. Introduction

2. Literature review

3. Method and data

4. Results and discussion

5. Conclusion

Acknowledgement

References

Annexes

1. Introduction

The last decades are characterized by the intensification of development of Arctic and northern territories, to which 67% of all lands of the Russian Federation belong. This is due to the needs of the economy, the need for more active involvement of natural resources in economic circulation. Arctic and northern territories are Russia's most important economic and strategic reserve. There are large industrial complexes for the extraction and processing of hydrocarbon raw materials, transit and transport corridors, in which the Russian and world economy are interested. However, intensive rates of development of natural resources by large oil and gas producing companies intensified the technogenic burden on the land, forest and natural resources of the North, which proved to be vulnerable, unstable with regard to man-made forms of anthropogenic impact. Territories of traditional nature management, for which the indigenous small nations of the North had been active for centuries, found themselves in a zone of ecological and economic risks. Today there is a clash of interests between two fairly large and promising sectors of the economy: reindeer husbandry, hunting, fishing and oil and gas production.

In conditions of intensive industrial development of natural resources on the territory of the Arctic and the North, the preservation of the native habitat and identity of the indigenous small nations of the North (hereinafter ISNN) is becoming increasingly important. To date, 40 indigenous small nations of the North, Siberia and the Far East have a special legal status in Russia, the total number of which according to the 2010 census is 257.9 thousand people or less than 0.5% of the total population of Russia. Today in Russia, large industrial corporations and indigenous small nations are only learning to build constructive and long-term relationships that, on the one hand, should help preserve the traditional nature management, on the other hand, should help indigenous small nations adapt to new economic realities. In recent years, various practices of interaction between local and newcomers - economic, political, legal and cultural have evolved. Extractive companies declare a policy aimed at preserving the original habitat, traditional nature management and improving the quality of life of indigenous people. However, it must be noted that the development and development of fuel, energy, mineral resources, forest and water resources in the Arctic and northern regions continue to have only a negative impact on the way of life of the indigenous small nations of the North, whose economic base is renewable natural resources. The problems and mechanisms of the relationship between the indigenous nations of the North and the extractive companies have not been sufficiently studied to-day.

This article analyzes the problems and perspectives of interaction between indigenous small nations of the North and industrial companies at the regional level. The study addressed the following tasks: to identify the problems that most worried the ISNN in the light of the intensification of industrial development in the region; determine subjective assessments of ISNN about the impact of large corporations on the condition of villages, the living conditions of their families, on traditional activities of ISNN and the ecology of the region; to characterize the degree of interaction between the aboriginal community and subsoil users on the identified problems; to identify the opinion of the ISNN regarding compensation for damage in the event of a negative impact on natural resources necessary for traditional economic activities; to outline the prospects for a long-term partnership between indigenous people and extractive companies in the region.

In the sections following the introduction, it is shown what place this work occupies among the studies and lives of small nations of the North of Russia. The data and method used in the study are described. The results of the analysis are presented in the context of the results of previous studies. The last part contains conclusions, highlights the limitations of this work, as well as the direction of further studies.

The problems of ISNN in the context of socio-economic shifts in the 1990s were considered in articles and monographs of North-West scientists (Arefiev, 2014) and others. Most of the works reflect social and economic changes in the areas of the ISNN living (Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Irkutsk Region, the north-west of the European part of the Russian Federation and others), demographic dynamics and contains a number of recommendations aimed at ensuring sustainable development of ISNN, and also a description of the experience of foreign countries (the USA, Canada, Finland) in the settlement of the problems of the indigenous nations of the North.

In 2013, the Association of Indigenous Small Nations of the North, Siberia and the Far East in Russia conducted a sociological study “The Life of Indigenous Nations: problems and solutions “on the social situation among the aboriginal population, which also assessed the interaction with authorities of large industrial corporations (n.a., 2013).

In the English-language literature problems of interaction between extractive enterprises and local communities at the local level are noted, as ignoring or poor representation of the interests of indigenous nations in the implementation of large mining projects (Auton, 2008). However, the problems of interaction between industrial companies and local communities as a whole remain poorly understood. Therefore, in the article it is assumed on the example of Mirninsky district of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in Russia to study the connections of the local community of ISNN with extractive companies as the main agents of transformation of the socio-economic environment of the district in the foreseeable future.

The study used an interdisciplinary approach based on the synthesis of such scientific disciplines as sociology, ethnography, economics, demography, economic geography.

The empirical basis for the study was statistical materials, federal and regional regulations, studies conducted in other regions, publications in the media, documents and data of tribal communities of the ISNN, as well as materials of their own field sociological studies conducted in November-December 2015 of the year. The studies affected the territories of two municipal agricultural community of Mirninsky district of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) where the small indigenous nations of the North live compactly:agricultural community MС Botuobuinsky agricultural community (village Taas-Yuryakh) and MС Chuoninsky agricultural community (village Arylaakh).

The main reason for study choosing Mirninsky district of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) was the fact that the territory of Mirninsky district is subjected to the most intensive industrial development in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). In terms of the level of development of industrial, engineering, transport and social infrastructure, Mirninsky district is one of the leading places in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Diamond mining in the Mirny area of the RS (Y) accounts for approximately 14% of the world's production. On the territory of Mirninsky district, the Federal Subsoil Users Management Department has allocated 22 license areas for exploration and production of hydrocarbon raw materials, where 11 oil and gas producing companies conduct their economic activities: ALROSA-gas OJSC, Taas-YuryakhNeftegazodobycha LLC, and Irektynneft CJSC produce oil and gas; Rosneftegaz JSC, Syldyukarneftegaz LLC, Irkutsk Oil Company LLC, Gazprom Geologorazvedka LLC, Surgutneftegaz OJSC, Mirnyneftegaz LLC, Evenkinegeophysika LLC, Research and Production Center for Super-deep Drilling and Comprehensive Exploration Earth's interior (NPC Nedra) carry out exploration work.

In addition, Mirninsky District is an example of public-private partnership in the complex solution of social and economic issues of the ISNN, the mechanisms of interaction between indigenous nations and subsoil users are actively introduced. In total, according to the data of the All-Russian Population Census of 2010, 553 Evenk, 156 Even or 0.8% of the total population of the district lived in Mirninsky district. To date, due to intensive industrial development and multiple relocation from their native places; previously the nomadic nations Evenki and Even people living on the territory of Mirninsky district lost their nomadic way of life. This fact led to the actual disappearance of reindeer herding in the Mirninsky district. The main activities of the surveyed tribal communities were hunting, processing and marketing of hunting products, fishing, gathering of wild plants, herd horse breeding. Hunting is conducted through tribal communities. In the territory of Mirninsky district, 12 tribal communities of the ISNN were registered and are functioning:  In the village of Taas-Yuryakh - 5 tribal communities (Yal, Dzhunkun, Botuobuya, Sulakyyt, Sokukaan); Suldyukar village - 4 (Baragat, Kuohana, Sordonnooh, Olom); Arylakh Village - 2 (“Chuona”, “Tuoy-Khaya”); MirnyCity - 1 (Kerzhak).

During the field work the following sociological study methods were used: first, a formalized interview with the founders, chairmen of the tribal communities of the indigenous nations of the North, heads of rural settlements, residents who are competent in social, economic, demographic, cultural and other spheres of life of the ISNN. The method of expert interviews was based on a comprehensive discussion with experts of several topics: income and employment of the population, evaluation of interaction with authorities, public organizations and large corporations, demographic and migration processes, assessment of the infrastructure and accessibility of municipal services, the state of the national culture and relations with other ethnic groups (Vasiljeva, 2013). Expert interviews allowed obtaining in-depth, complete and detailed information about the life of the ISNN in the area of intensive industrial development, the social situation, and the relationships with extractive companies. In the course of the study, 6 interviews were conducted.

Secondly, a questionnaire survey was carried out by the members of the two tribal communities of the small nations of the North (hereinafter referred to as the TCSNN) of the Mirninsky District: TCSNN “Chuona” and TCSNN “Botuobuya”. These tribal communities are a form of self-organization of the Evenks, united by a blood-bearing sign, leading a traditional way of life, carrying out traditional management and engaged in traditional crafts. The sample of respondents was 46 people or 34.5% of the total number of members of the surveyed tribal communities. The main difficulty encountered by the authors during the survey was the fact that most representatives of the ISNN were in the taiga. The questionnaire included 35 questions on such blocks as hunting, fishing, gathering of wild plants, sacred places, opinion on changes in the environment, living conditions, the role of traditional economic activities in the life of respondents, assessing the influence of industrial facilities on the traditional activities of the tribal community, data on the family and employment of a member of the tribal community.

Most of the members of the surveyed tribal communities were men, in the survey the proportion of women was only 2.4%, the proportion of men - 97.6%. An analysis of the age structure of the examined TCSNN showed that the proportion of young people aged 18 to 30 was very low (about 7%). Half of the members of the tribal communities were men aged 41 to 60 years. The level of education of respondents was low; of the total number of respondents 19.1% had higher and incomplete higher education, 26.2% - secondary vocational, 50% - general secondary education and lower. In addition to engaging in traditional activities, 76.2% of respondents worked or had part-time work. 78.6% of respondents had families, which on average consisted of 4-5 people; half of the respondents had children under 16 years old.

The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) (hereinafter RS (Y)) is located in the northeast of the Russian Federation and is the largest in the territory of the subject of Russia. Being one of the strategic regions of Russia,in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), there are about 40 thousand representatives of 5 indigenous small nations of the North: Evenki, Evens, Chukchi, Dolgan, Yukaghirs (4.1% of the total population of the republic).

4.1 Situation of ISNN in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

The main feature of the ISNN of the RS (Y) is their scattered settlement throughout the republic. In accordance with the data of the All-Russian Population Census of 2010, the most numerous groups of ISNN in the republic are the Evenks, whose number was 21 thousand people or 55.5% of the number of representatives of this ethnic group in Russia as a whole, and Evens - 15 thousand people or 67, 3% of the number of representatives of this ethnic group in Russia as a whole. The Dolgan people numbered 1.9 thousand people, or 24.2% of the total population of this ethnic group in Russia in general, the Yukaghirs - 1.28 thousand people, or 79.9% of the population of this ethnic group in Russia as a whole, and the Chukchi - 670 A person or 4.2% of the number of representatives of this ethnic group in Russia as a whole(n.a., 2010).

Figure 1
Settlement of indigenous small nations of the North (in places of traditional
residence and economic activities) in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

The indigenous small nations of the North live on the territory of 21 municipal districts of the republic; the list of places of traditional residence and traditional economic activities of the ISNN includes 70 rural settlements of Yakutia. In general, the ISNN are engaged in the management of such traditional branches of economy as reindeer husbandry, hunting, fishing and gathering of wild plants. At the same time, traditional types of management of ISNN are the main means of their existence.

At the present time in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) operating licenses for the use of mineral resources (geological study, prospecting and evaluation, exploration and production of diamonds, placer gold, ore gold, hydrocarbon raw materials, rare earth metals, silver, etc.) in the territories of residence, traditional nature management And traditional economic activities of ISNN have 179 enterprises on 381 sites in 20 municipal districts of the republic(n.a., 2017). The most intensive industrial development is subjected to the territories of five regions of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia): Mirninsky and Olekminsky districts, located in western Yakutia; Aldan and Neryungri districts in southern Yakutia; Ust-Maysky district in eastern Yakutia. In these areas, there are such large mining corporations, forestry and mining enterprises as ALROSA AC (PJSC), Transneft, Timir Mining and Metallurgical Company, Surgutneftegaz OJSC, Vostok Engineering LLC, Rosneft OJSC NC, Gazprom PJSC and others. Among the industrial projects being implemented in the territory of the ISNN, such major projects as the construction of the Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean (ESPO) oil pipeline, the Siberia-Siberia gas main, the Tommot-Nizhny Bestyah railroad, the development of the Tayezhnoye iron ore deposit, The Gross deposit, and so on.

4.2 Legislation in respect of ISNN

One of the main criteria characterizing the nature of relations between ISNN and extractive companies is the existence of legislation regulating the process of interaction between the indigenous population and subsoil users (Tyapukhin, 2015). Today, the Russian Federation has formed a legislative framework that provides and guarantees the rights of indigenous small nations, which is a set of federal and regional legislation levels. In a complex, these legal acts allow regulating the vital issues of the ISNN, they guarantee the rights of ISNN to preserve and develop their culture, preserve the basic elements of their identity, such as language, traditions and cultural heritage; preservation and encouragement of traditional ways of using land and biological resources in accordance with established cultural customs, etc.

The regional legislation of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) as a subject of the Russian Federation reflects many aspects of the vital activity of the indigenous nations of the North. It is aimed at a comprehensive solution of the tasks of socio-economic and ethno-cultural development of indigenous ethnic groups. In total, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) adopted 10 laws on indigenous small nations of the North. The existence of regional legislation regulating the process of interaction between the indigenous population and subsoil users; Regional regulatory documents that determine the nature management regime in the given territory make it possible to assess the impacts on the original habitat and the traditional way of life of indigenous small nations in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

Among the significant achievements of the republican legislation is the Law of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) “On Ethnological Examination in Traditional Living and Traditional Economic Activities of Indigenous Small Nations of the North of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)” dated 14.04.2010. 820-З No. 537-IV. This is a fundamental republican law aimed at implementing the powers of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation (hereinafter RF) with regard to the protection of the rights of the indigenous small nations of the North as defined by the federal law On Subsoil. The law regulates relations in the field of ethnological expertise for the socio-economic and cultural development of the indigenous small nations of the North of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), protection of their aboriginal habitat, traditional way of life, management and crafts. It should be noted that in Russia the law on ethnological expertise was adopted only in one entity - the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). To date, the experience of conducting ethnological examinations in the RS (Y) is being studied by other constituent entities of the Russian Federation and at the federal level with the aim of regulating the mandatory ethnological expertise in the Russian Federation.

Relations between indigenous small nations and industrial corporations in Russia are regulated by the Federal Law “On Territories of Traditional Nature Use (hereinafter TTNU) of Indigenous Small Nations of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation” No. 49-FL as of 07.05.2001(Federal Law, 2001). Its main position is that, although indigenous nations have exclusive rights to these territories, the land itself and its resources belong to the state. According to article 14 of the law, in case of withdrawal of these lands, a commercial company is obliged to pay compensation to local residents. Currently, in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) 60 local TTNUs have been formed by the decisions of the local self-government bodies, including 10 TTNUs formed within the boundaries of municipal districts, 49 TTNUs within the boundaries of municipalities and 1 TTNU within the nomadic tribal community “Olom” of Mirninsky district, of which 56 TTNUs are registered in the state cadaster.

It should be noted that federal and regional legislation with regard to ISNN is currently controversial and contains many gaps, which hinders the possibility of its implementation, impedes effective interaction between ISNN and large corporations.

4.3. Traditional economic activities of tribal communities

The main role in the economic activity of the surveyed tribal communities of Mirninsky district was played by hunting, processing and marketing of hunting products. The occupation of the meat and fur-bearing industry is for the local Evenks an aboriginal economic activity. The tribal communities had long-term licenses for the use of wildlife. The survey showed that 65% of the members of the TCSNN are seasonal fishermen, that is hunters who have a permanent or temporary place of work in other organizations, but for the winter season they take leave or leave without maintenance and for a few months go into the taiga for hunting, sell products hunting. The share of hunter-fishers among the members of the TCSNN is only 5%. The remaining 30% of the TCSNN hunters were amateurs that are hunters who were hunting for personal needs and family needs, did not sell hunting products. As well as seasonal hunters, most lovers had a permanent job or were retired. In general, for 34% of respondents, hunting was the main activity, yielding income.

Figure 2
Geographical location of Mirninsky district of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

All members of the TCSNN annually hunt such species of hunting animals as sable, wild reindeer, elk, waterfowl and hog game. A survey of hunting frequency showed that 26.2% of respondents were hunting most of the year, 21.4% hunted almost every week, 16.7% hunted once a month, and 33.3% answered that they hunt rarely, once in half a year. Analysis of methods of hunting showed that brigades used traps and snowmobiles more often. Most hunters use dogs for hunting, some hunters used horses for hunting.

In the hunting industry of ISNN living in Mirninsky district, leading a traditional economic way of life, the main thing is hunting for sables. Communities try to maximize the opportunities of their hunting grounds and production quotas, which, first of all, according to the hunters, depended on the level of material and technical security of the tribal communities and annually moving specific routes of passing sables through the territory of the agricultural community. The tribal communities supplied to the fur-bearing communities were supplied to the agricultural production and trade cooperatives with which they signed an agreement on cooperation and supplies of fur-and-fur raw materials. On behalf of the tribal communities, suppliers export raw materials to the International Fur Auction in St. Petersburg, hand over fur-and-fur raw materials, the price of which is differentiated depending on the size, color, quality, density, gloss and time of slaughter. A survey of members of tribal communities showed that 85.7% of hunters gave most of the furs they received to suppliers for sale; the remaining 14.3% of hunters did not surrender skins because they used it only for their own needs.

The role of fur trade and, consequently, the role of sable resources in the North is not so much an economic as a social one. Hunting is the most common form of winter employment for small nations in the North, where up to 80% of the male population is engaged in fishing to some extent. Hunting for the majority of surveyed hunters did not bring large incomes, but was an additional source of earnings. Approximate average annual income of one hunter from the delivery of furs for the period 2010-2015. Amounted to about RUB 40 ths per year, or RUB 3.3 ths per month. According to the estimates of the surveyed hunters of TCSNN, the share of profits from fur hunting in the family budget did not exceed 20%. The main reasons for the low payback of the fur trade are: High costs for hunting (motor vehicles, fuels and lubricants, equipment, provisions, traps, etc.); small volume of quotas for sable production allocated to the tribal communities; purchase prices for sable pelts at auction, which in turn depend on the size, color, quality, density, gloss and time of slaughtering.

In addition to fur fishing, wild reindeer and moose are one of the main objects of commercial and amateur hunting of the tribal communities, which are of great value as meat products. Historically developed additional directions of economic self-sufficiency of the indigenous nations of the North are fishing and gathering of wild plants. Members of the TCSNN did not engage in commercial fishing and fish farming, but engaged in amateur fishing for personal consumption and recreational aims (recreation, tourism, sports). The survey showed that 81% of respondents were engaged in fishing, of which 59.5% with a frequency of one or two in six months, and only 14.3% once a month. The remaining 19% of the members of the tribal communities questioned did not engage in fishing.

One of the most important food products, small nations consider berries. In the territory of the TCSNN for personal needs and for the implementation of the members of the Community, they mainly engaged in collecting berries such as red bilberries, red and black currants, blueberries and blueberries. According to a sociological survey, on average for the winter members of the tribal community harvested 50 liters of wild berries (or 3.5 buckets). Fungi on average for the winter stocked 20 liters, herbs - 5 liters. Part of the collected gifts of nature goes on sale, replenishing the family budget of the northerners.

We were interested in subjective assessments of hunters about changes in the last 10 years, in the number and composition of species of wild animals, birds, fish and wild plants in the area of the tribal communities. The survey showed that, in general, for all specified species of animals, birds, fish and wild plants, the majority of respondents noticed that changes occur only in the direction of decrease (70.3%). 13.8% of respondents believed that nothing had changed, and only 2.4% of hunters responded that there was an increase. The share of those who found it difficult to answer in the survey was 17.4%. The study calculated the coefficients of variation, which are weighted average group estimates. For all species of animals, birds, fish and wild plants under consideration, negative coefficients of change were obtained, that is, the majority of the surveyed members of the tribal communities estimated changes in the number and composition of species in the negative direction. According to the observations of hunters over the last 10 years, the greatest changes in the direction of deterioration occurred in the number of wild birds (the coefficient of variation was -0.929), wild reindeer (-0, 738) and sable (-0.714).

Table 1
Estimates of changes in the number and composition of species of wild animals, birds,
fish and wild plants at the site where the respondent hunts, over the past 10 years

*The coefficient of variation is calculated by the formula: 6=(4-3)/100. A coefficient equal to zero means that in the sample population the number of “positive” and “negative” ratings is the same. The closer the coefficient to +1, the more respondents assessed the changes in the number and composition of animals, birds, fish and wild plants positively, and conversely, the closer to -1, the more in the sample of respondents who evaluated the changes in the negative side.

Most hunters, as the main reason for the reduction of natural resources, noted the negative impact of oil producing companies, the increase in such industrial facilities as drilling, quarries, roads, wells, profiles, exploration and prospecting, etc. (61.9%). In second place, 35.7% of hunters named a large number of forest fires that occurred in recent years in the territory of Mirninsky district. Further, there were such reasons as deforestation, mass cuttings of rides by subsoil users, reduction of animal feed, drought, poaching and bad ecology.

Oil and gas producing facilities are usually located at a considerable distance from populated areas (from 35 km and more), so the direct impact is mainly on hunting. Therefore, the efforts of oil and gas producing companies for the social support of hunters (traditional nature management) focus mainly on the delivery of hunters to their lands, sponsorship in the form of motor fuel for snowmobiles and motor boats.

Under the influence of the activities of geological exploration enterprises, maps of pack and forest trails in the area have lost relevance, since the movement of hunters is mainly carried out by geological profiles, which are laid every 300 meters. According to the representatives of the extractive companies, thus, additional support for hunting is provided. However, the scale of the impact of industry has so far been little studied. According to local residents, they have not eaten fish for a long time already, which is all infected.

The tribal communities of the ISNN have licenses for the long-term right to use wildlife objects - this is the only legal mechanism for impact on large corporations. According to art. 40 of the Federal Law “On Wildlife” users of the wildlife have the right to bring claims for damage caused by illegal actions of legal entities and citizens, resulting in the death of animals, deterioration of their habitat, violation of legal rights associated with the use of wildlife(Federal Law, 1995). However, in fact complaints about the ruin and theft of hunting huts, the withdrawal of prey from traps, the violation of hunting profiles are not considered by anyone. Both hunters and communities are powerless before large corporations. From interviews with local residents: “On the one hand, they seem to be helping, the woodworkers are fulfilling the terms of the contract, the oilmen, too, as far as possible do not refuse anything. But as such, fishing is hindered. The beast leaves because of noise, rumbling “(hunter, 53 years old).

The hunters are asking new changes in the legislation, allowing the management of forestry and extractive activities in commercial areas. In view of the current situation, hunters agree to this, but with the condition of control over poaching. From interviews with local residents: “... Now, under the new law, activities of three organizations are permitted on the same site, i.e. hunting, oil producing and timber industry - on the same site. I prove to them: “Oil producing and logging can be combined, but how can this be combined with hunting? The beast runs away, leaves – everything”.

About impotence before public and private companies is often said during meetings of representatives of indigenous small nations. If private companies still have the opportunity to apply to the courts or try to agree with them, then state companies try to hold such negotiations - with a comment on the activities “in the interests of the state”.

The costs for hunting are increasing, and this is largely due to the fact that more and more hunters are beginning to appreciate comfort, acquire diesel generators, chainsaws and even satellite TV, the content of which requires significant amounts of fuel. Therefore, the fuel provided by oil companies is very much in demand. This dependence on fuel contributes to the gradual narrowing of hunting grounds around settlements and their ex­cessive exploitation.

In the study, assessments of the importance of hunters for the livelihood of their families of such traditional economic activities as hunting for wild ungulates, fishing, fur-hunting, picking wild plants were identified. On average, 14.3% of respondents noted their extreme importance in the life support of the family for all these types of traditional activities; 82.1% believed that they were more important than not; not so important were the traditional types of management for 3.6% of respondents, no respondents chose the option “not at all important”. Thus, the coefficient of importance for all types of traditional nature use in the study was 0.929, which shows their high significance for the indigenous small nations of the North, for their livelihood, nutrition, and raising living standards. As the most significant were indicated hunting for wild ungulates, fur-hunting and picking berries, mushrooms.

Table 2
Assessment of the importance for the livelihoods of families of
hunters of different types of traditional economic activities, in %

*The coefficient of importance is calculated by the formula: 6=((2+3)-(4+5))/100. A coefficient equal to zero means that in the sample population the number of “positive” and “negative” ratings is the same. The closer the coefficient to +1, the more respondents estimate the importance for the livelihoods of families of hunters of different types of traditional economic activity, and, conversely, the closer to -1, the less important are the traditional types of management.

Evaluation by indigenous nations of the influence of large industrial corporations on the condition of the village and the living conditions of families.

The survey revealed an estimate of the tribal community of the influence of extractive companies on the condition and living conditions of the indigenous small nations of the North who live in villages. 41.3% of respondents believed that during the last 10 years, there had been no significant changes in the state of the village, in the conditions of life. The main reason that the respondents thought so was the lack of improvement of residential buildings, lack of water supply. 10.8% of respondents noted improvement in the condition of the village and the living conditions of the indigenous population. As a major improvement in the situation in the countryside, respondents provided social and financial assistance from subsoil users, in particular, many pointed to the activities of “ALROSA”. Among other examples, an effective relationship between indigenous residents and subsoil users was indicated the allocation of money for school repairs, financing the construction of a kindergarten, gasification of the village.

More than 28.3% of the interviewed respondents indicated that there is a worsening of the condition of rural settlements and the living conditions of families of members of the tribal communities of the indigenous small nations of the North.

The main indicator of the negative impact of the activities of extractive companies operating on the territory of the Botuobuinsky and Chuoninsky agricultural community and in the hunting grounds of the tribal communities of small nations was as follows: Deterioration of the environment, pollution of water and natural resources; shallowing of rivers and as a consequence absence of fish; uncontrolled deforestation, crawler tracks, destruction of hayfields, wells and quarries; multiple fires in the workplaces of large corporations, resulting in wild animals, fish, waterfowl and forest fowl disappearing or migrating to other areas.

All this, in the opinion of the small nations of the North, has an impact on the traditional nature use of local residents, worsens the diet of their food, reduces the volumes of furs, wild ungulates and birds. There was a general deterioration in the quality of hunting grounds.

Evaluation of the influence of large industrial corporations on traditional activities of indigenous small nations of the North. Respondents were asked to answer the question “In recent years, have any industrial facilities affected your hunting, fishing, gathering of wild plants and haymaking?” Throughout the sample, 73.9% of respondents noted the real impact of industrial facilities on their hunting, gathering, fishing and haymaking. Only 6.5% of hunters answered that no industrial objects affected traditional activities, 19.6% of hunters found it difficult to answer this question. 

In the opinion of the majority of members of the tribal communities of numerically small nations, industrial development in the Mirninsky district had the strongest negative impact on hunting (the coefficient of influence was -0.861) and fishing (-0.892). The procurement of fodder for cattle (-0.595) and gathering of wild plants (-0.570) were less affected.

The coefficient equal to zero means that in the sample population the number of “positive” and “negative” ratings is the same. The closer the coefficient to -1, the more respondents felt that industrial objects increasingly influence the conduct of traditional activities, and conversely, the closer to +1, the less important were the influences of industrial facilities on traditional types of management.

The opinion of the members of the TCSN regarding compensation for damage in the event of a negative impact on natural resources necessary for traditional economic activities. In the event of a negative impact on natural resources necessary for traditional economic activities, in the opinion of the majority of the members of the TCSNN, extractive companies should pay the first priority economic damage to the agricultural community (70.7%) next to which the industrial facility is located; secondly; tribal communities affected by damage (53.7%) and, thirdly, specific residents engaged in traditional nature use in the affected area (39.0%), behind which a site is attached.

The last respondents thought it necessary to pay damages for negative impact on natural resources - they were the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and Mirninsky district (19.5% each).

To the question “What are the correct ways to compensate the losses to the hunters, the tribal communities and the indigenous population by extractive companies?” 87.8% of the respondents answered that it is necessary to build facilities and facilities that improve the quality of life of the local population.

12.2% of respondents believed that the correct way would be a method of compensation in cash, and 4.9% waited as compensation for damage from subsoil users allocating other territories that replaced objects, materials, equipment.

The general opinion of experts is that, in the course of their activities, industrial companies, regardless of their size (large, medium, small) damage the environmental situation in the areas of exploration, extractive and other works. They pollute the environment with wastes of production, which is certainly detrimental to the health of the indigenous population of these places. The work of these organizations is related to radioactive materials, and theincreased radioactive background directly affects the risk of getting cancer. In addition, river pollution, deforestation, disruption of the landscape reduces the population of animals and the number of fish, preventing the traditional activities of indigenous small nations. Therefore, it is necessary to control the ecological situation, not to lead to the destruction of nature on the territories of industrial development. And in case of violation of the environment, to pay compensation for harm to the indigenous inhabitants. Therefore, extractive companies should be aware of their social responsibility to people living in the developed territories. For this, it is necessary to improve legislation in this area, as well as public and state control over the activities of corporations.

Also, members of the tribal communities of small nations expressed the following expectations from the extractive companies that come and work on the territory of the rural settlements of Mirninsky district - the conclusion of contracts, agreements with subsoil user companies with subjects of law of traditional nature management on the use of land for subsoil use within the territories of traditional nature use of indigenous small nations North, in which there should be obligations of companies of subsoil users to pay compensation indigenous nations due to the impact on the environment as a result of the economic activities of companies; assistance in the improvement and improvement of the village, in improving living conditions - hot and cold water supply, sewerage, in the construction of water treatment equipment, water channels, improving the quality of drinking water; construction of socially significant facilities, like a gym, sauna, garage, post office; road construction; employment - providing jobs for indigenous nations.

Large companies declare a policy aimed at preserving the original habitat, traditional nature management and improving the quality of life of the indigenous inhabitants of Yakutia. Extractive enterprises that carry out activities in the territories of indigenous small nations establish their contractual relations with them in the light of their interests. Bilateral (between the enterprise and the government of the RS (Y)), (between the subsoil user, the administration of the municipal entity), social and economic agreements are concluded. With the participation of regional authorities, public hearings, meetings, round tables, conferences with subsoil users of the republic with mandatory participation of representatives of the Association of ISNN are held.

In the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) as a constituent entity of the Russian Federation, the processes of interaction between state authorities, local self-government bodies and public associations of indigenous nations are underway to protect their constitutional rights, the original habitat and the traditional way of life.

Due to the activities of extracting companies, the revenues to the budget of the municipal formation are significantly increased. The main budget-forming enterprise of not only the district, but the entire republic is ALROSA AC. In addition to the tax (in the form of personal income tax) and non-tax (dividends on shares, rent for land) payments to the budget of the municipal district, ALROSA AC provides assistance under separate agreements on social and economic cooperation.

On the basis of signed agreements, the company annually transfers funds for capital and current repair of educational institutions, culture, for the development of physical culture and sports, recreation and rehabilitation of children, vocational guidance work, etc.

In the region, the oil and gas producing industry is actively developing, the center of which has settled in the territory of the municipality “Botuobuinsky agricultural community”Taas-Yuryakh. Following the results of 2015 and 2016, this agricultural community became the first rural municipal settlement of the republic, which lists the so-called “negative transfer” to the state budget of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in connection with the excess of the average budgetary income per capita.

As part of social responsibility, oil and gas producing companies also sign socio-economic agreements on cooperation with the regional government and administrations of municipalities in the territories where raw materials are extracted. However, the lack of an appropriate regulatory framework in this area does not allow to fully regulating this process.

For effective interaction of ISNN in the extractive sector, there are barriers: contradictions and difficulties in the current legislation, undeveloped systems for presenting public statements and irresponsible industrial policy. In addition, Russia does not have important international documents (such as the ILO Convention169, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 2007), which could improve relations between indigenous nations and extractive companies.

Summarizing the above, we note that the results of the expert survey do not allow us to conclude that, in accordance with the ever-changing reality, it is necessary to develop mechanisms for regulating interaction between government bodies, business and local communities of ISNN. Currently, at the local level, there is a lack of experience and practice of expressing one's own interests and activities not only by representatives of indigenous small nations, but also by all local residents. Any sponsorship assistance from the extractive enterprises is accepted by the local population with gratitude, gradually forming their dependence. Thus, the interaction of large corporations and local communities of ISNN is currently a one-way communication in which the extractive company is dominant and, at its discretion, determines the type and amount of social assistance.

On the basis of the conducted study, we can note that there are certain limitations in the development of relations in the interaction of ISNN and large corporations.  A systematic review of legislation and industrial policy is required. In each case, the number of affected indigenous nations should, as a rule, be small due to the dispersion of indigenous small nations in the largest territories in Russia. However, given the extensive national development plans for the northern and eastern territories, the cumulative effect will be significantly detrimental to ISNN. Different levels of government in Russia, including federal, regional and local authorities, as well as industry and civil society, need to cooperate in improving interaction with ISNN. First, there are expectations that the State Duma will update the federal legislation on indigenous nations, as planned in the past few years. The main attention should be paid not only to the reform of legislation, but also to strengthening the regulatory implementation of impact assessments (ethnological expertise).

Secondly, for regional authorities to develop strategies for conducting impact assessments, defining mechanisms for determining compensation for the negative impact on the environment and benefits. Thirdly, the role of municipal authorities in the territories of indigenous small nations needs further study so that ISNN occupy a strong place in the political, administrative and territorial structure and contribute to effective decision-making regarding the use of natural resources. Finally, large businesses (industrial corporations) should be more accountable for their impact on local communities and communities.

The study is sponsored by the Russian State Scientific and Research Foundation in the framework of the project No.17-02-00214 “Development of a methodology for assessing damage by indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North at the industrial development of traditional areas of nature”.

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Annexes

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1. The main scientific employee of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia); Professor of the Department of Management of the mining and geological industry, North-Eastern federal university, Yakutsk, Russia. irsam@list.ru

2. Professor, HR Department, North-Eastern federal university, Yakutsk, Russia

3. Leading researcher of the department for studying the problems of the social and labor sphere of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Yakutsk, Russia