Formal representation of the Nenets, Saami and Vepsian peoples in the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC) and the Barents Regional Council (BRC) is what the Barents Indigenous Peoples Congress agreed upon in Kirkenes on February 4th 2010.

60 indigenous delegates from the Barents Euro-Arctic Region will meet in Kirkenes on Ferbuary 4th, to discuss proper representation of indigenous peoples in the formal Barents cooperation.

Indigenous leaders and experts from the Russian Federation, Canada and the Nordic countries are among the speakers at the international conference, Co-existence in the Arctic in Kirkenes on February 5th. George Poitras, former Chief of the Mikisew Cree in Alberta, Canada, will address the conference on his experiences and his work with regard to the oil sands issue. 60 participants will attend the conference, of which 30 represent indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation.

Nenets, Saami and Veps from the Barents Euro-Arctic Region meet experts and others in the international conference "Co-existence in the Arctic". Expansion of industrial activities have a significant impact on indigenous peoples, and this is the topic for the discussion in Kirkenes on February 5th 2010.

Indigenous peoples' representatives gather in Kirkenes on February 4th 2010 to discuss the representation of indigenous peoples in the Barents Euro-Arctic Council. About 30 delegates from the Russian side will meet delegates from the Nordic side.

The village of Revda in Murmansk Oblast will probably be closed and its inhabitants moved. The reason for this is the collapse of the mining industry in the area, according to BarentsObserver.com. About 145 Saami currently live in Revda.

BarentsObserver.com reports of less mining activity on the Kola Peninsula in the period January-November 2009, compared to the same period in 2008.

The acknowledged Saami artist, Johan Sara Jr., went to Naryan-Mar to find Nenets voices for the Barents Spektakel 2010.

Sami Nurash – the Saami youth organization in the Russian Federation – was established and registered on November 23rd 2009, after over ten years of hard work and discussions. – This is a great day of joy for the Saami youth in Murmansk Oblast, the elected chairperson, Anna Afanasyeva, states.

- Indigenous peoples' experiences will be presented by Norway in the climate negotiations, says Norwegian Minister of the Environment. Egil Olli, President of the Saami Parliament in Norway, takes part in the official Norwegian delegation next week, NRK Sámi Radio reports.
(Photo: samediggi.no)