The international conference "The Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Cultural Heritage" was held at the University of Helsinki. The discussion focused on the report of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples "On the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to the Cultural Heritage". Scientists, practitioners, experts from different countries shared their experiences and assessments on such issues as the participation of indigenous peoples in the management of cultural heritage sites, interlinkages between cultural and linguistic rights and the right to self-determination, the role of the scientific community in preservation of cultural heritage, repatriation of indigenous peoples' cultural objects . Experts noted the importance of the effective implementation of the International Year of Indigenous Languages in 2019 and welcomed the adoption of a new UNESCO policy of engaging with indigenous peoples.
Representatives of Finno-Ugric peoples took part in the conference: Saami, Karelians, Izhorinas, Komi, Mari, Udmurts. Chairman of the Center "Young Karelia" Alexey Tsykarev delivered his opening and closing remarks on behalf of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Professor Galina Shkalina of the Mari State University took part in the discussion on the role of women in preservation and promotion of cultural heritage of indigenous peoples, and Marina Fedina, the Head of the Center for Innovative Language Technologies at the Komi Republican Academy of Public Administration and Management, shared positive experiences of introducing innovative technologies for the preservation and development of indigenous languages. Izhorian expert, a member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Dmitriy Zyazika-Zaitsev, talked about the mutual influence of cultural heritage with the environment and the land rights of indigenous peoples.
The conference participants adopted Recommendations to states, the UN and indigenous peoples.
More information about the conference and its materials can be found on the website of the University of Helsinki.
