The delegation from the Kautokeino commune visited the Nenets autonomous Okrug in October 24-27. The aims of the visit were to discuss te exchange project for young reindeer herders and to plan the Indigenous celebration of the Barents Cooperation 20th anniversary in Kautokeino in March 2013.
The Norwegian delegation, consisting from representatives of the Board of the Kautokeino commune, the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry, the Association of World Reindeer Herders and the Saami Upper Secondary and Reindeer Husbandry School, got a warm welcome on the Nenets land. That was no coincidence as Kautokeino is a twin municipality of Naryan-Mar established in 1991. Also the agreement about cooperation between Kautokeino and the Zapolyarny Rayon of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug was signed two years ago.
Kautokeino delegation makes present to Igor Fyodorov, Governor of the Nenets AOThe program prepared by the Nenets hosts for the Norwegian delegation was very eventful. There were meetings with representatives of authorities of the Zapolyarny Rayon, Naryan-Mar, Nenets AO and reindeer herders of the Kharp farm. Also, Igor Fyodorov, Governor of the Nenets AO had a meeting with the Norwegian delegation. He accepted an invitation to become the leader of the Nenets delegation to the Indigenous celebration of the Barents Cooperation 20th anniversary in Kautokeino in March 2013. The Okrug’s delegation will consist of representatives from the Zapolyarny Rayon, Nenets artists, craftsmen and herders, participants of new Russian-Norwegian project “Eallin”.
New partners within Eallin project: Galina Medvedeva, Director of the Nenets Agrarian Economical school and Eillen Inga O. Hætta, Head of the Saami Upper Secondary and Reindeer Husbandry School in KautokeinoThe planning of the “Eallin” exchange project for young reindeer herders was one of the most important points of the meeting agenda. The project has been initiated by Russia in the Arctic Council. The main project’s coordinators are the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry, Association of World Reindeer Herders and the Sami Upper Secondary and Reindeer Husbandry School which is based in Kautokeino, main center for reindeer husbandry in Norway. The aim of the project is to improve life conditions of reindeer herders and to support development of reindeer husbandry. Young Sami and Nenets reindeer herders will became the project participants and get a chance to share experience working in reindeer brigades of each other. Also the training program is an important part of the project. The Nenets Aagrarian Economical Technical School, Association of the Nenets people “Yasavey”, administrations of the Zapolyarny Rayon and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug supported the project from the Nenets side. The project will be realized under financial support of the Norwegian Barents Secretariat.
