The boreal region is home to many indigenous peoples. Many of them live in forested areas. They are being increasingly confronted with the depletion of the natural resources that they depend on, weak rights of ownership, control and management of their traditional lands and a lack of political power resulting in a loss of traditional knowledge and social disruption.
Industry is increasingly looking at indigenous land as a source of cheap raw material. There is often inadequate legislation to protect them. Resource exploitation such as forestry, mining and hydroelectric development causes environmental and cultural impact: sacred places are degraded, the landscape is destroyed and poisoned, which makes subsistent economy impossible for many communities.
In Europe the indigenous people are the Sámi of northern Scandinavia. Their culture and subsistence is traditionally centered around reindeer herding, fishing and hunting. Reindeer herding, although modernized, is still the core of Sámi culture. However, the Sámi customary right to reindeer herding is being challenged by private forest owners.
In Canada over 80% of the indigenous communities are located in forested areas. The rigidity with which both the Canadian government and industry have clung to their monopoly over the forest, has impacted negatively on the social, economic and environmental conditions of local aboriginal communities and adjacent forest lands, leading to an increasing number of conflicts on the ground and in the courts.
In Russia, traditional knowledge is slipping away; there is no proper medical care, housing and food. Currently there are 26 distinct indigenous peoples in Siberia, ranging in numbers from under 200 (the Oroks) to as many as 34 000 (the Nenets).
However, many indigenous peoples continue to live in a traditional way. NGOs can help indigenous communities by supporting their land rights and fight against large scale exploitation. But real changes are necessary to force governments to respect indigenous as independent self-governing Nations.
Learn about some of the indigenous people TRN is currently supporting:
Grassy Narrows
Sámi People |
