Sakhalin Island is an anomaly: following the arrival of the offshore oil and gas industry, many local people are today being exposed to the latest technology and working practices. Yet only a few hundred kilometres away, other islanders live as reindeer herders, as they have done for centuries. Is it possible for this tiny minority of Indigenous Peoples on the island to survive in this rapidly changing world? We spoke to anthropologist Greg Guldin, the man who’s committed to helping them...

Nivkhi, Evenki, Oroki and Nanai: the tiny communities of Indigenous People who live on Sakhalin Island. These peoples are as ancient as Russia itself. Originally from the Arctic regions, they have lived through the Russian Empire, Communism, ‘pereistroika’ and now the Russian Federation.

In total, there are approximately 3,500 people who can be classed as ‘indigenous’ on Sakhalin today. The way of life for these tiny rural groups hasn’t changed much over the centuries. They’re no longer completely nomadic, but still survive on the land: reindeer herding, hunting, fishing and berry collecting.

“Indigenous peoples are among the world’s most marginalised,” says Greg Guldin. “They’re poor and the victims of racism, discrimination, and a lack of understanding.”

Guldin is an Indigenous Peoples expert. An anthropologist, he’s worked with the World Bank on projects all over the world, including countries as diverse as America, China, Vietnam and Indonesia. Currently, he’s working with Sakhalin Energy, helping to draw up and implement an Indigenous People’s plan between the company and the communities.

“There has been remarkable progress,” says Greg. “2005 began with a protest by the Indigenous Peoples against the oil companies operating on Sakhalin – a demand for greater recognition. The year ended with Sakhalin Energy signing (the only company willing to sign) a Memorandum of Understanding with the communities, and a commitment to build a series of development plans for them.”

“Times have always been tough for Indigenous Peoples in Russia,” says Guldin. “But things really began to get bad in the 1930s under Stalin, after a relatively benign period in the 1920s. Then in the 60s and 70s Kruschev and his successors forced the Indigenous communities to resettle, learn to speak Russian, and take on the Russian culture.

As a result of this their way of life began to change and many started to rely on state handouts. Now since the move to a market economy, there has been a very painful withdrawal of state support for this particularly vulnerable group.”

Indigenous peoples all over the world rely on their ancient ways of making a living. In the modern world, the countryside, and forests in particular, are especially under threat. This land is central to the communities’ existence – not only do they need it for food, it is also integral to their spiritual lives.

The arrival of the offshore oil and gas business on Sakhalin in the 1990s could, therefore, have caused another major upheaval for the Indigenous Peoples on the island. But from the beginning, Sakhalin Energy started working with these groups, and now both parties have agreed the Sakhalin Indigenous Minorities Development Plan (SIMDP), with the full support, and participation of, the four indigenous communities.

Guldin admits that he is surprised at how well both sides are working together: “The SIMDP is a true partnership,” he says. “The priorities were identified by the Indigenous Peoples themselves. They’ve had a big impact on it, which is unusual. This is usually done by governments or corporations who may have a different agenda.”

So what are the priorities for the communities? Social benefits like education and health, (particularly access to dental care and anaemia treatments) were seen to be very important, but their main priority was that their lifestyle should become sustainable, to allow it to be passed on to the next generation.

The SIMDP is directly linked to the Russian Association for the Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON). The head of the Sakhalin Indigenous Minorities Council is also the Vice President of Raipon, an appointment that has helped forge a direct connection with the nationwide body.

Of course, money is involved. Sakhalin Energy has agreed to provide $300,000 per annum to fund the activities under the SIMDP for the next five years. Half of this will be spent on supporting traditional economic activities like fishing and reindeer herding.

In May, an advisory body of five indigenous people is to be set up to administer a mini fund. 10% of the annual SIMDP grant will be paid over to this group to administer themselves (with some advice from Sakhalin Energy), which it’s hoped will increase their management skills.

“Indigenous people work at a person-to-person level,” says Guldin. “They’ve had to learn how to deal with paper. Eventually, the aim is that maybe 90% of the company’s grant will be handed over to the Indigenous People to manage themselves.”

Guldin is very optimistic about the future: “There is a true partnership now, sharing of information and mutual respect. In the beginning the Indigenous Peoples were very suspicious, but very good relationships have been forged between some Sakhalin Energy staff and members of the indigenous communities, by developing trust over a period of time.”

There has also been public praise for the company from the European Bank of Regional Development Bank, which sees the SIMDP as an essential commitment under the Company’s Social agenda. The Indigenous People themselves say the SIMDP represents an historic change, and is the kind of agreement they’ve been asking for, for decades.

“Our modest goal,” says Greg “is to help the Indigenous Peoples to acquire new skills in an effort to have a hand in their own destiny, which has for so long been at the mercy of outside forces.” And he adds, “Sakhalin Energy’s efforts could serve as a model for other extractive industry operators. The company made a decision to set up a true partnership, and I’m impressed by that.”