In late June, Mr. Gregory Guldin, the Independent Supervisor who is overseeing the implementation of the Sakhalin Indigenous Minorities Development Plan as part of the Sakhalin II Project, completed a visit to Sakhalin.

The main objective of the Sakhalin Indigenous Minorities Development Plan (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 life style and culture.

In 2006 Sakhalin Energy made a commitment to annually allocate USD 300,000 over a period of five years for the implementation of the SIMDP.

The latest visit of Mr. Guldin, International Expert for Indigenous Minorities and Doctor of Anthropology, ended in June. The main objective of his visit was to carry out an independent assessment of the SIMDP’s progress, the results of which will be documented in a general report that will be given to Sakhalin Energy.

During his two-week visit Mr. Guldin visited Okha, Nogliki, Tymovsk and Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinskiy districts. The Expert personally met with the winners of the 2006 and 2007 grants issued as part of the Preserving Traditions Mini Grant Fund under the SIMDP. Mr. Guldin also met with people involved in implementing projects under the programme support of traditional economic activities of the peoples of the North.

In Okha Mr. Guldin took part in a presentation for the Ethnic Costume Tailoring Pattern grant project, which involved an exhibition of ethnic Nyvkh and Russian costumes with traditional embroidery, some hand-made. The presentation was prepared by Okha local Non Government Organisation headed by Galina Lemchina with support from Tatiana Andreyeva and Svetlana Kulik. The tailoring of the costumes for the exhibition was carried by a range of people from different age groups.

In addition to meeting with the indigenous minorities, Mr Guldin also met with the Heads of Administrations in these districts. During the meetings he discussed with each of the Heads of the districts about the progress of SIMDP projects and their knowledge of the various initiatives.

Having completed his visit to Sakhalin, Mr. Guldin is now preparing his second independent Report on the SIMDP’s progress.