Governance principles of collaboration between state and indigenous peoples of Arkhangelsk Governorate-Based on archive materials

Abstract

The legislation of the Russian Empire on the governing of “inorodtsy” was quite progressive for its time due to the securing the rights of indigenous peoples to local selfgovernment for the first time and taking the customs established in the aboriginal communities of the North, Siberia and the Far East into account. At least two groups of the indigenous population lived in the territory of the Arkhangelsk Governorate: Lapps (Sami) and Samoyeds (Nenets). The study of archival data from the Arkhangelsk Governorate for the XIX-early XX centuries allows identifying the principles of indigenous communities of the Russian North regional administration as well as the practice of law enforcement and interaction of regional officials and Russian population with nomadic reindeer-breeders and fishermen. Identifying the historical features of indigenous communities administration in the North-West gives an idea of the evolution of legislation and law enforcement mechanisms in this area of legal relations. Considering the presented practices allows improving the modern regulatory framework for the rights of indigenous small-numbered peoples. Keywords—Arkhangelsk Governorate; Inorodtsy; Samoyeds; Lapps; Zyrians; Korels