Nornickel acknowledges and respects both
the collective and individual rights of the indigenouspeoples as enshrined in Russian and
international law. The Company honours the history, cultures, traditions, and
ancestral lands of indigenouspeoples – the Nenets, Enets, Dolgans, Nganasans,
Evenks, and Sámi – recognising their distinctiveness, heritage, and ways of life
inextricably tied to their natural environment.
Policy of engagement with indigenouspeoples
In 2024, Nornickel’s Board
of Directors approved an updated
Independent experts, tribal communities, and
associations of indigenous minorities participated in updating the document,
enabling the comprehensive alignment with international standards, the Company’s
experience in implementing support projects and programmes for indigenous
minorities, and the specific needs and suggestions of the indigenous peoples
of Taimyr and the Murmansk Region.
The implementation of the Company’s
policy of engagement with indigenous peoples, along with the integration
of human rights‑based approaches, enables Nornickel to build sustainable and
trusting relationships with indigenous communities. Nornickel continues to consistently
advance initiatives for engagement with the indigenous small‑numbered peoples
of the North, building a sustainable framework to support their
development and foster ongoing collaboration on joint projects.
In 2025, the programme’s activities
are focused on implementing the Company’s Policy of Engagement with
Indigenous Small‑Numbered Peoples, with the aim of improving quality of life,
developing social infrastructure, preserving traditional economic activities, and supporting
indigenous culture.
Nornickel’s commitments and
principles regarding engagement with indigenouspeoples
Recognition and respect
for self‑determined development priorities
Acknowledgement
of the vulnerability of indigenous minorities
Recognition of and respect
for decision‑making rights
Nornickel’s commitments and
principles regarding engagement with indigenouspeoples
Commitment to culturally
appropriate consultations, agreements, and disclosure of information
Advancing engagement with indigenous
peoples
Funding of projects agreed with
indigenouspeoples
FPIC principle
CHRB A.1.3.a.EX
The FPIC principle lies at the heart
of the Company’s approach to engagement with indigenouspeoples. This approach guarantees that:
freeengagement is free from intimidation,
coercion, manipulation, or persecution;
priorconsent is sought at early stages
of conceptualisation or development of project activities, and indigenous
peoples have sufficient time to make
an informed decision;
informedparticipation is ensured through full
disclosure of information regarding all material aspects of a proposed
activity.
Programme to support indigenouspeoples
In 2024, Nornickel completed its five‑year
programme to support the indigenous peoples of Taimyr. Performance under
the programme was reviewed by the Sustainable Development and Climate
Change Committee of MMC Norilsk Nickel’s Board of Directors and at meetings
of the Company’s executive bodies. Its results were also presented
to the wider public in early 2025. The Company spent over
RUB 2 billion on the programme.
Achievements and performance
Living conditions 23%of the housing stock
in Volochanka and Ust‑Avam settlements was renovated,
significantly improving living conditions
Medical care First aid became more accessible,
as the number of rural health posts in Taimyr
settlements grew by 27%
Development
of traditional trades Traditional economic activities,
such as reindeer herding and traditional crafts, are actively
supported, contributing to the preservation of cultural
traditions
Logistics and promotion
of products A robust infrastructure has
been established to support the sale of products made
by the indigenouspeoples of Taimyr, contributing
to the improvement of their economic well‑being
In 2025, MMC Norilsk Nickel has remained
committed to safeguarding the rights and supporting the development
of the indigenous small‑numberedpeoples of the North through a range
of focused initiatives in the following areas:
Liaison with federal institutions, e.g.
an agreement with the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs (FAEA)
The Company engages in joint
initiatives with the FAEA that focus on institutional development and
the inclusion of indigenous minorities in decision‑making processes
concerning matters that impact their legitimate interests:
The IndigenousPeoples of Russia – Social Diplomacy
nationwide educational competition programme is aimed at enhancing
the qualifications, leadership skills, and expert capacity
of indigenouspeople;
Support for expert workshops and
analytical studies, including annual independent monitoring
of business–indigenouspeoples relations, based
on the collective position of institutions representing
the indigenous small‑numberedpeoples of the North.
Implementation of charitable
programmes
Support for indigenous minorities
is provided as part of the long‑term corporate sustainable
development program:
The World of New Opportunities
charitable programme provides institutional and infrastructural conditions
for the sustainable development of communities across indigenous
territories;
The World of Taimyr grant
competition aims to support initiatives led by indigenous minorities
and non‑governmental organisations in areas such as ethnic cultural
development, environmental protection, education, traditional ways of life,
and cultural and tourism projects.
Partnerships with indigenous associations
and authorities of Russian regions
The Company is consistently
strengthening its engagement with indigenous peoples through agreements with
federal and regional indigenous associations as well as through
support received from regional authorities.
Such engagement involves supporting
agreed‑upon projects, including initiatives aimed at:
developing indigenous culture and
traditional economic activities;
organising and conducting socially
significant events that foster interest in and help preserve traditional
indigenous activities and culture;
implementing infrastructure initiatives
as part of long‑term regional programmes for the social and
economic development of Taimyr.
Indigenous Communities Coordination Council
In 2021, to foster systemic dialogue with
the indigenous peoples of the Taimyrsky Dolgano‑Nenetsky Municipal District
and improve their quality of life, Nornickel established the Indigenous
Communities Coordination Council, supervised by the head of the Norilsk
Division. The Coordination Council oversees Nornickel’s programmes to support
the indigenous peoples of Taimyr. Community members may also provide feedback
on the Company’s initiatives and put forward their own suggestions. In total,
the Council brings together 58 tribal communities engaged in traditional economic
activities on the Taimyr Peninsula.
The Company’s Coordination Council, which
includes representatives of tribal communities of Taimyr’s indigenouspeoples, implements targeted projects aimed at:
facilitating traditional nature use
by providing assistance to communities in preparation
for the season of traditional economic activities (hunting, fishing);
supporting educational initiatives –
the Company has extended the Taimyr Students programme, which offers
comprehensive assistance to indigenous students, into 2025.