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Sakhalin Energy has been engaging with the Indigenous People since 1994 with an initial focus on the reindeer herders who are directly impacted by the company’s activities. The Company expanded its interaction in 2005 to include all indigenous people on the island, some 3500 people. |
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Sakhalin Energy responded to requests by the Indigenous People and invited a World Bank expert on Indigenous People issues to the island in April 2005 to support the development of the SIMDP. |
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The main objective of the SIMDP is to support the social and economic development of the indigenous minorities on Sakhalin Island. This involves the protection of health, education, the establishment of ethnic farms and the preservation and development of traditional lifestyle and culture. |
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In 2006 Sakhalin Energy made a commitment to annually allocate $300,000 over a period of the first five years for the implementation of the SIMDP |
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Since the inauguration of the SIMDP, more than 100 social development projects financed to a total of $650,000, have been developed and approved by IP. This includes publishing the first ABC primer in the Uilta language and conversion of audio recordings of traditional Nivkh fairy tales, songs and stories into digital format in 2008. |
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During the development of the SIMDP, the Indigenous People declared an interest in finding out about the international experiences of other IP in collaboration with local governments. As a result, in 2007 Sakhalin hosted international guests from the social organisation "First People Worldwide". This organisation is involved with Indigenous People issues around the world. During their visit the international experts shared their experiences on developing indigenous communities and tribal enterprises, as well as on cooperation between indigenous people, industrial companies and the government. |
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In July 2007 with financial support from Sakhalin Energy, ethnologists from The Leiden Museum of Ethnology - a world-renowned museum and institute on traditional lifestyles and cultures of indigenous people, visited Sakhalin. This was a unique opportunity to have independent experts see the SIMDP implementation in practice and obtain an independent view of its approach to indigenous people. This cooperation resulted in a contribution to a new museum exhibition “The Big Thaw”, which was devoted to the impact of climate change on the Artic Indigenous People’s lives and cultures. |
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The SIMDP also states a commitment that the first Five Year Plan (2006–2010) is the first phase of the SIMDP and is one in a series of such plans to be designed and implemented over the life of the Sakhalin-2 project. |
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The company arranged visits from an Independent External Monitor who is overseeing the implementation of the SIMDP. The main objective of these visits was to carry out an independent assessment of the SIMDP’s progress, which proved positive overall. All reports are available on www.sakhalinenergy.com. In 2008 Russia’s biggest Indigenous Peoples Association RAIPON (Russian Association for the Indigenous People of the North) awarded the Sakhalin Energy Indigenous Peoples unit that implements the SIMDP with a Letter of Honours.The SIMDP was singled out by the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank, as a model of international “good practice”. |
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The SIMDP was highlighted by independent environment and social consultant AEA as an example of Sakhalin-2 project laudable best practice. The AEA Report states that the Sakhalin Indigenous Minorities Development Plan “is in compliance with WB OD 4.20 and is in line with international best practice”. |
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The SIMDP was selected for inclusion in the ‘Best Corporate Social Projects 2006-2007’ book, published in June, 2008. It was recognised among the 16 most successful, efficient and creative projects to be implemented in Russia. |
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In July 2007 with financial support from Sakhalin Energy, ethnologists from The Leiden Museum of Ethnology - a world-renowned museum and institute on traditional lifestyles and cultures of indigenous people, visited Sakhalin. This was a unique opportunity to have independent experts see the SIMDP implementation in practice and obtain an independent view of its approach to indigenous people. This cooperation resulted in a contribution to a new museum exhibition “The Big Thaw”, which was devoted to the impact of climate change on the Artic Indigenous People’s lives and cultures. |
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In 2007 the company arranged two visits from an Independent External Monitor who is overseeing the implementation of the SIMDP. The main objective of these visits was to carry out an independent assessment of the SIMDP’s progress, which proved positive overall. All reports are available on www.sakhalinenergy.com |
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The SIMDP also states a commitment that the first Five Year Plan (2006–2010) is the first phase of the SIMDP and is one in a series of such plans to be designed and implemented over the life of the Sakhalin-2 project. |
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