The international introductory course "Arctic Council and the role of Permanent participants" is organized by the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) in partnership with the Arctic Council Indigenous Peoples Secretariat, as well as with the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry in Norway.

Mr Grigory Ledkov, Head of RAIPON, says: "In 2021 Russia for the second time, for a two-year term, will become the Chairman of the Arctic Council. Thanks to the active actions of today's Chairman - Finland and its leader – Mr. Sauli Niinisto, the Arctic Council has become the most productive of all platforms of political dialogue in the Arctic. I hope that Russia will use every opportunity as a Chairman to turn the Arctic into a region of peace and prosperity. To do this, we have decided to hold an introductory course in Moscow. We want to show the leaders of the indigenous peoples of Russia the real advantages of the Arctic Council".

Antonina Gorbunova, Head of the International Relations Department of RAIPON: "We expect the communities of the indigenous peoples of the Russian Arctic to take an active part in the preparation and implementation of the events planned for the period of Russia's chairmanship in the Arctic Council. We also want the leaders of the Russian indigenous peoples to understand the importance of their mission in the Russian Arctic."

Course programme:
Day 1. Parliamentary hearings "on legislative protection of the original habitat and traditional way of life of indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation". The hearings are held by the State Duma of the Russian Federation, the Course participants are invited as experts.

Day 2. International seminar "Indigenous peoples of the Arctic Council" with the participation of senior officials of the Arctic Council and representatives of the Arctic Council member countries. The partner and co-organizer of the seminar is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, which will be represented at the event by Vladimir Barbin, the Ambassador, Senior Official of the Arctic Council from the Russian Federation.

Day 3. The 3rd day of the course is dedicated to training and informing the participants. Representatives of indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation will be able to get acquainted with the structure of the Arctic Council, its history and activities.

Course participants: regional leaders of indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation, representatives of the Council of Elders, the Business Council of the Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, youth activists of regional movements.

Please read the official press communique or contact RAIPON for more details.