The Conservation Value of Sacred Sites of Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic: A Case Study in Northern Russia Report on the state of sacred sites and sanctuaries GAFF Technical Report No. 11 (2 004 t __,."""'"" For further information and additional copies contact: CAFF INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT Hafnarstraeti 97 600 Akureyri ICELAND Telephone: +354 462 3350 Fax: +354 462 3390 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://www.caff.is ISBN NUMER: 9979-9526-8-7 Prents to fan Stell ehf. PREFACE The preparation of the report "The Conservation Value of Sacred Sites of Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic: A Case Study in Northern Russia" was a joint venture between the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON), Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), the Arctic Council Indigenous Peoples Secretariat (IPS) and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA), which funded the project. With RAIPON in the lead of project implementation, CAFF and IPS provided technical assistance, especially regarding the project's international aspects. We view this project as an example of capacity building at its best and are grateful to the many experts and individuals that contributed to it, including Mikkail Todishev, Peter Billie Larsen, and Alona Yetimenko. Working with indigenous communities, organisations and researchers in the Yamal and Koryak Autonomous Okrugs, we had a unique opportunity to address conservation and cultural heritage on a large scale. After a general introduction, the report provides a Russian context and describes the research findings. This is followed by an overview of international instruments for protection of cultural heritage, and a thematic analysis aimed at answering the questions posed by the project. The final chapter provides national and international recommendations for follow-up actions. The report argues for the importance of a holistic approach to sacred sites management. If local authorities, indigenous organizations and researchers seriously wish to protect sacred sites, these sites cannot be treated independently from customary rights issues such as traditional livelihood activities and indigenous-driven education. We hope this report will be read by Northern communities and used as an educational tool for current and future generations, inspiring further work to document and protect indigenous peoples' cultural heritage. A next step is to hold an International Circumpolar Workshop on Sacred Sites and Traditional Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic. This Workshop will considerably widen and deepen the recommendations of the report and provide the opportunity to involve people from other regions of the Arctic. Sergei Haruchi Sune Sohlberg Pavel Sulyandziga President of RAIPON Chair of CAFF Chair of IPS Table of Contents Preface Chapter I: Executive Summary Chapter 2: Introduction Chapter 3: Sacred Sites in a Russian Context Chapter 4: Sacred Sites in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Chapter 5: Sacred Sites in the Koryak Autonomous Okrug Chapter 6: Indigenous Sacred Site Protection and Biodiversity Conservation: An Arctic and International Perspective Chapter 7: Thematic Analysis Chapter 8: Recommendations Appendix: Lists of Sacred Sites Chapter l: Executive Summary This report is the result of an innovative partnership between Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), The Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA) that supports groundbreaking documentation of Indigenous Peoples' sacred sites in the North, assesses their environmental significance and explores appropriate protection measures. Field research took place in two regions: namely, the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YNAO) in the Northwest part of Siberia, and the Koryak Autonomous Okrug (KAO) in the Russian Far East. It involved an indigenous research team working in very close collaboration with local authorities, research institutions and indigenous communities. The report documents how the Nenets and the Koryak, despite external pressures, have maintained customary use and management of sacred sites. Maps reveal an extensive cultural geography of sacred sites that cover large areas of the surveyed pilot regions. Although the research teams recognize that more work needs to be done, this tirst effort resulted in the documentation of 263 sacred sites in Yamal and 84 sites in Koryak. The report explores the cultural and social significance of sacred sites in the two regions. It confirms the ancestral relationship these peoples have developed with their lands. The sites also reflect the presence of spiritual and, more generally, cultural values attached to their surrounding enviromnent. An important finding is also the intimate link between customary livelihoods and sacred sites. Not only are most sacred sites located on or in the vicinity to migration routes, tishing sites or pastures; the active use, maintenance and protection of these sites depend on healthy livelihood systems. This customary relationship and the associated rights, the report argues, are fundamental components of strengthened conservation strategies, and fundamental for a sustainable future for the peoples and regions surveyed. At the same time, sacred sites and customary use have not remained untouched by decades of cultural marginalization, socio-economic engineering and policy experimentation. Despite an impressive cultural resilience, the research reveals an increasing knowledge gap between generations. Site descriptions also document growing threats from weak protection efforts, the cumulative effects of industrial exploration and exploitation activities, as well as the continuous danger of pillage and theft. The increasingly difficult position of customary livelihoods contributes to this impact. Furthermore, customary rights of Indigenous Peoples to use, manage and protect their sacred sites as part of their heritage are rarely recognized or put into practice. Still, the project has initiated and revived policy level discussions in both regtons to strengthen sacred sites protection. Protection approaches explored in the report involve cultural heritage instruments, protected areas and indigenous rights instruments. Voices from the grassroots level and indigenous organizations are raising the critical importance of communities regaining control of their sacred sites through strengthened customary rights, cultural revitalization and the integration of sacred knowledge in indigenous education initiatives. Finally, the project has led to important policy dialogues and openings at regional levels. CAFF Technical Repm1 II Page I Chapter I After a brief introduction to the history and methodology of the project, the report describes the broader Russian context. In particular, it seeks to assess the broader federal legal context in terms of sacred sites protection. The next section presents the research results from the two pilot regions. Each region and the Indigenous Peoples are briet1y presented together with a selection of short sacred sites descriptions. This is followed by a regional overview, which discusses the cultural and environmental significance of the research results. Special attention is paid to the current protection status and the potential of existing regional policy instruments is critically assessed. The following section provides an analysis of sacred sites and their protection in a global and Arctic context. International heritage, biodiversity and human rights instruments are assessed. Particular emphasis is put on examining experiences from other Arctic countries. Lessons are also learned in the Russian context. In the thematic discussion section, the goal is to respond to the questions posed initially by the project. What do sacred sites mean to Indigenous Peoples? Have we learnt any lessons about the mapping and identification of sacred sites? Are sacred sites significant for biodiversity conservation and ecological stability? What is the current protection status of sacred sites? Which challenges and opportunities lie ahead? What is the potential of protected area instruments? How are sacred sites on other land use types best protected? The section seeks to provide answers based on the research results, and, further, presents preliminary guidelines for additional work in the area. The report ends with a list of recommendations for further action. Important challenges ahead involve not just identifying appropriate instruments, but seeking to make them work in practice. For this purpose, strengthening Indigenous Peoples grassroots involvement in managing their heritage must take place, in parallel with policy recognition. CAFF Technical Report I I Page 2 Chapter I Chapter 2: Introduction 2.1 Project Context, Rationale and Objectives ... apa1t from the ritual itself, there is another reason for visiting sacred sites, which is the opportunity to feel one is part of the present community, of this human space. The entire family or clan gathers together, and we can see what it is we share, how many of us are left, and what kind of changes have come about since the last time we met. Then you are forced to think about your life and about tomorrow. - Yurii Vella, Khanty writer. Indigenous hunters and gatherers, tlshers, and reindeer herders of the Arctic are keen observers of their ecosystems, which they depend on for their everyday and long-term cultural survival. Surviving in the most extreme natural surroundings, indigenous knowledge systems and