Native ‘land claims’, Russian style

In Russia, as in Canada, Native peoples are attempting to gain greater control over their homelands. In the last decade, legislation at both the federal and sub‐federal (provincial, republican, etc.) level has sanctioned the transfer of land to Native ‘possession’, though not ownership, for the purs...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Geographies / Géographies canadiennes
Main Authors: FONDAHL, GAIL, LAZEBNIK, OLGA, POELZER, GREG, ROBBEK, VASILY
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2001
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0064.2001.tb01501.x
https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1541-0064.2001.tb01501.x
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1541-0064.2001.tb01501.x
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Summary:In Russia, as in Canada, Native peoples are attempting to gain greater control over their homelands. In the last decade, legislation at both the federal and sub‐federal (provincial, republican, etc.) level has sanctioned the transfer of land to Native ‘possession’, though not ownership, for the pursuit of traditional activities. This paper surveys the legislative basis that authorizes the creation of Native ‘communes’ (obshchinas) and their territorialization. After examining how the process works in theory, it examines the paths taken, and obstacles met, in establishing obshchinas in three Native communities in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia).