Strengthening Collaboration of the Indigenous Peoples in the Russian Arctic: Adaptation in the COVID-19 Pandemic Times

Elena Bogdanova, Konstantin Filant, Medeya Ivanova, Tatiana Romanenko, Ludmila Voronina, Kamrul Hossain, Praskovia Filant, Sergei Andronov and Andrey Lobanov
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Elena Bogdanova: Department of Economics and Management, Northern Arctic Federal University, 163002 Arkhangelsk, Russia
Konstantin Filant: Arctic Scientific Research Centre of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, 629008 Salekhard, Russia
Medeya Ivanova: Luzin Institute for Economic Studies, Federal Research Centre, Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 184209 Apatity, Russia
Tatiana Romanenko: Naryan-Mar Agriculture Research Station, N. Laverov Federal Research Center for Integrated Arctic Research of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 166000 Naryan-Mar, Russia
Ludmila Voronina: Laboratory of Socio-Ecological-Economic Systems, N. Laverov Federal Research Center for Integrated Arctic Research of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 163069 Arkhangelsk, Russia
Kamrul Hossain: Northern Institute of Environmental and Minority Law, Arctic Center of the Lapland University, 96101 Rovaniemi, Finland
Praskovia Filant: Association of Reindeer Herders in YNAO, 629000 Salekhard, Russia
Sergei Andronov: Laboratory for Studying the Mechanisms of Physical Factors Action, Centre for Testing and Examination of Natural Healing Resources, National Medical Research Centre for Rehabilitation and Balneology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 121099 Moscow, Russia
Andrey Lobanov: Laboratory for Studying the Mechanisms of Physical Factors Action, Centre for Testing and Examination of Natural Healing Resources, National Medical Research Centre for Rehabilitation and Balneology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 121099 Moscow, Russia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-27

Abstract: The article presents the challenges of the Indigenous peoples’ interplay with the key actors (Indigenous communities, Indigenous associations, regional governments, corporate businesses, and scientific institutions) in the Russian Arctic. Invoking actor–network theory offered knowledge to analyse how the effectiveness of this collaboration may lead to Indigenous peoples’ social adaptation in the COVID-19 times. It revealed the main problems increasing their vulnerability and making barriers to meeting sustainable development goals (SDGs). The primary sources included the data collected from expert interviews in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, and the Murmansk region in 2020–2021. The main findings proved the gaps in the interplay of Indigenous peoples with key actors in the Russian Arctic due to insufficient interregional and international cooperation, indirect communication of governments with Indigenous peoples via Indigenous associations and communities focused mostly on supporting elites, and the lack of systematic feedback of all key actors. This collaboration must be focused on meeting SDGs and guaranteeing their economic, social, and cultural rights to maintain a traditional lifestyle and livelihoods, involving them in natural resource management, improving quality of life and well-being, increasing access to ethnocultural education, reducing inequality, and promoting Indigenous peoples’ self-government.

Keywords: Indigenous small-numbered peoples; actor–networking theory; sustainable development; COVID-19 pandemic; Western Siberia; Nenets Autonomous Okrug; Kola Peninsula (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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