The board of the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry had its last board meeting in its present cycle in St Petersburg recently. The Centre also held a personnel seminar at the same time for members of staff. Besides the meeting, staff and board members took the opportunity to meet with Galina Makarova, the Permanent representative to the embassy of the Republic of Sakha Yakutia in St. Petersburg. Following this fruitful meeting, staff and board members visited the embassy of the Yamal Nenets Autonomous Okrug where they met with the Permanent Representative Elena Sakharova. Finally, a half day was spent visiting the renowned Department of Northern Peoples of the Hertsen Institute. This has been a significant institution for indigenous peoples in Russia  for hundreds of years. For centuries, the institute has focussed on the teaching and training of teachers of northern languages. The Institute has also published an enormous amount of literature in northern languages.

ICR staff and board members met with students and staff and were given a tour of the facility. Present at the meetings were Chair Johan Mathis Turi, board members Juha Magga, Monica A. Sundset, Berit M. Jonsson, Inger A. Smuk, Per Gustav Idivuoma and Mikhail Pogodaev. Staff members present included Elna Sara, Isak Henrik Eira, Karen Inga Kemi and Philip Burgess. The head of the Women's Reindeer Herding Network, Karen Anna Buljo was also present.

You can see photographs of the visit here