Over 500 delegates are expected to attend the eighth international forum of indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East to take place in Salekhard on March 23-25, TASS said quoting the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area press service.

"At least 500 delegates as well as government officials, scientists and public figures, including foreigners, will arrive in Salekhard for the eighth international forum of the indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East," the press service said. "Yamal will be represented by 35 people from four ethnic groups: the Nenets, Khanty, Selkup and Komi peoples."

The forum will also include the eighth meeting of the Russian Association of the Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East that will elect the organization's governing bodies for the next four years. "Russian and international public organizations will monitor the elections at the invitation of Association President Grigory Ledkov," the association's press service said.  

The association includes representatives from 41 ethnic groups, totaling about 250,000 people from 44 Russian regions.

About 42,000 representatives of indigenous peoples live in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area, with 17,000 of them leading a nomadic lifestyle, which includes reindeer breeding and fishing.