| Summary: | Industrial development of the Arctic has been accompanied by waste accumulation, especially in the vicinity of indigenous villages, that represents a growing threat to safety and health of the Arctic people. Recent studies confirm that contamination of the Arctic environment of the indigenous peoples is getting increasingly severe. Due to traditional living conditions, the peoples of the Arctic are exposed to higher levels of contamination in all components of environment: air, water, soil and food. Indigenous peoples’ organizations have been active participants in the 2001-2004 AMAP project “Persistent Toxic Substances, Food Security and Indigenous Peoples of the Russian North” coordinated by the RAIPON and also of other international projects addressing contamination problems and human health. The Permanent Participants of the Arctic Council have proposed the elaboration of the Indigenous Peoples Community Action Initiative “to develop their partnership with ACAP to identify and remove local sources of contamination and improve the environmental conditions in indigenous communities”. The initiative was approved by the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Salekhard (October 2006).
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