Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON)

RAIPON was founded in 1990 at the first Congress of Indigenous Peoples of the North of USSR. Now RAIPON is the Russian umbrella organization which organizes 35 regional and ethnic organizations of indigenous peoples in the regions where they live.

RAIPON represents 41 groups of indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East. The total number of People is more than 270 thousand and they live in 60 % of the Whole Territory of the Russian Federation from Murmansk to Kamchatka.

The purpose of RAIPON is to protect indigenous peoples’ human rights, defend their legal interests, assist in solving environmental, social, economic, cultural and educational issues, and to promote their right to self governance.

RAIPON works with the State Duma and the Government of the Russian Federation regarding legislation related to indigenous peoples’ issues.

Country: The Russian Federation