The 8th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum is underway this week in New York. The Forum is a unique event for the indigenous peoples of the world (and within the UN system, as most indigenous peoples are stateless), and it has become the permier gathering place for indigenous peoples from all over the globe. The week long session is taken up with the business of the Permanent Forum and the impacts of  the Declaration and is also host to numerous side events and talks. 

This year is of special interest to Arctic residents as there is a special half day session on the Arctic with discussions being held in the plenary that relate to issues specific to Arctic indigenous peoples, any of whom are of course related to reindeer husbandry. 

Mikhail Pogodaev, the Chair of the Board of the Association of World Reindeer Herders is representing WRH at the UNPFII and expects to make a short presentation about the work of WRH during the Arctic session. There is also a large youth delegation from the Norwegian side of the Sami area, mostly youth representatives of the Norwegian Sami reindeer herders Association NBR/NRL. 

Today, Pogodaev took the opportunity to give out the EALAT book, Reindeer Herders Voice to several selected attendees, including James Anaya, the UN special rapporteur and Raimo Valle, the State secretary for Sami Affairs. Pogodaev also participated in and assisted the Youth caucus and a subsequent Arctic youth caucus.

See photographs here 
 

More news and photos tomorrow.