Russia plans to resume the Children of the Arctic international project and launch a state program to support reindeer breeders and the indigenous peoples of the north, Alexander Krutikov, Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, said at the forum, Arctic: Today and the Future.

"In cooperation with the Agency for Ethnic Affairs, we are resuming the international project, "Children of the Arctic," the goal of which is to create proper conditions for the all-round development of the younger generations, including the indigenous peoples of the north, through people-to-people and cultural exchanges with the peoples of other Arctic states," Krutikov said. "This project will be one of the Arctic Council's key initiatives."

Krutikov said it is important to involve representatives of the indigenous peoples in decision-making on economic projects if the projects affect their interests, and this should be a transparent process.

"We must stop excessively politicizing the subject of the indigenous peoples and admit that not enough is being done to promote and preserve their traditional living environment," Krutikov said. "We will work to make healthcare, education and public services more available for the indigenous peoples. We will be developing the institute of ethnological expert analysis as well." The federal targeted program, Children of the North, was active from 1994 to 2002.