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| Khanty tribesperson of Siberia fishing, Russia 1992
© 1992 Jürg Gasche/Survival |
"This is the only place where the land is clean in this region, we must
keep this territory clean because if an oil company comes then we won't be able
to hunt and keep reindeer, it will be the end." Khanty hunter
In Siberia, Russia's tribal peoples are being pushed off their land by oil,
gas and mining developments. They have no right to own their land under Russian
Federal law. The Khanty people are one of Siberia's 30 tribes and their
experience is typical: they have been driven from their land, exploited and
tricked by oil and gas companies – many have been reduced to alcoholism and
suicide.
Like all Russia's tribal peoples, the Khanty suffered greatly under the
Soviets – they were forced into communal farms, their religion banned and their
shamans killed. Despite these atrocities, they fought back. After the collective
farm system was abandoned, many returned to their land and continued to live by
hunting, fishing and herding. This way of life was again threatened in the 1960s
when the oil and gas industries descended on their land.
When the companies arrived they built towns, polluted the forests and sacred
lakes, killed the reindeer and scared off the game. Many Khanty were forced off
their land and into 'native villages'. In 1994 the Khanty Mansiisk
administration gave land documents to people still living by hunting and
fishing, but gave nothing to the many who had already been driven from their
land.
Under local legislation those Khanty who have documents for their land can
refuse to let oil companies enter their territories, or can permit the companies
to work on their land in return for compensation. In reality, the oil companies
often don't approach the Khanty until they have already drilled for oil or built
a road. They deceive the Khanty by claiming the Khanty cannot stop them
developing their land. Even if the Khanty sign an agreement for compensation,
the companies invariably fail to give what they promise – a skidoo or boat
engine and some rations in exchange for the destruction of their land.
In many areas the forests have been destroyed by the oil industry – they will
take 100 years to recover enough to sustain reindeer, which are central to the
Khanty way of life. The Khanty have been marginalised, ignored and pushed aside
in the hunt for oil and gas.
Life expectancy for Siberia's tribal peoples is significantly lower than for
Russians. 37 year old reindeer herder, Demitri, had 27 in his class at school.
Only six or seven are alive now. Two hanged themselves and many others died in
drink related incidents. Khanty who lose their land and can no longer herd
reindeer, hunt or fish are often driven to vodka – brought in by oil workers.
Khanty wish that the oil companies had never come to their land, but many are
no longer able to survive without the little compensation the companies pay.
There isn't enough game for them to hunt and they have to travel long distances
to reach rivers clean enough to fish in – they need skidoos to make these
journeys. The Khanty need proper compensation from the oil companies. In the
areas where the extractive industries have not yet struck, the people need to
have the right to deny oil workers if they choose.
The Russian federal law needs to be changed to recognise the rights of
Siberia's tribal peoples, including the Khanty, to the ownership of their land
and its resources. These rights should be inalienable so that the companies are
not able to bully or bribe their way into taking the land from its true owners.
Russia's indigenous peoples have been asking for many years for the government
to ratify ILO Convention 169 for the rights of tribal and indigenous peoples,
which includes such land ownership rights.
