Published on: 2026-04-30
Source: Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
This year, for the first time in our country, the Day of Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples of Russia is being celebrated. The holiday was established by the Decree of President Vladimir Putin with the aim of preserving the unique culture, traditional lifestyle, and crafts of the indigenous peoples. Rosneft and its subsidiaries supported thematic events in the regions of their activity.
Preservation of the national culture of the indigenous peoples of the North and their traditional way of life is one of the significant directions of Rosneft’s social policy. In the regions of the Company’s operations, infrastructure of northern settlements is being developed, housing is being built for the local population, families of reindeer herders are being assisted, the material and technical base of educational institutions, social facilities, and healthcare institutions in the area of indigenous peoples’ ancestral residence is being improved.
In the Leningrad region, where the Veps, Izhora, and Vod peoples live, an action “Multifaceted Russia” took place at the Rosneft gas station complex. Volunteers from “RN-North-West” told motorists about the culture, features of the national costume, everyday life, and traditions of these peoples. Guests of the gas station, in an interactive format, learned about the national cuisine of the indigenous peoples of the Leningrad region, with baked goods presented on the menu of the gas station company cafe.
In the Pskov region, drivers were introduced to the culture of the Seto people. Motorists participated in a quiz about Seto’s signature dishes and a master class on preparing a traditional drink – pumpkin compote with spices. Drivers also learned about how “Rosneft” supports indigenous peoples in various regions of the country. Participants of the event received postcards with recipes of popular dishes of the indigenous peoples of the Northwest of Russia.
In the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra, “Samotlorneftegaz” is implementing a series of social projects – from promoting the development of reindeer herding to supporting educational, cultural, and sports events of the indigenous peoples of the okrug. This approach not only preserves the traditional way of life but also creates new opportunities to improve the quality of life for the Khanty and Mansi. In 2026, with the support of the enterprise, two large-scale events have already taken place: a professional skills competition among sled dog drivers in Khanty-Mansiysk, and a national holiday “Voroniy Den” in Nizhnevartovsk.Projects aimed at providing national villages and remote settlements with internet and cellular communications have high social significance. The enterprise also participates in improving the material and technical base of the national theater “Solntse” and the ethnographic culture museum of the Khanty and Mansi under the open sky “Torum Maa.”
“RN-Yuganskneftegaz”, a key production asset of “Rosneft”, became a prize-winner in the district competition “Black Gold of Yugra” in 2025 in the nomination “For Cooperation with Indigenous Peoples”. Oil workers provided financial support to 166 families and national communities. Such experience allows improving the quality of life of the indigenous peoples of the North, preserving their identity, traditional trades and crafts, and supporting constructive, neighborly relations.
With the support of “RN-Uvatneftegaz” in the Tyumen region, one of the most revered ancient holidays of the Khanty and Mansi peoples—”Raven Day”—took place. It marks the arrival of spring, the awakening of nature, and the beginning of a new life cycle. The celebration at the Ethnographic Center “Uvas Mir Sot” (House of the Northern Peoples), created with the support of oil workers, gathered many guests from various districts of the Tyumen region, as well as from Yugra and Yamalo. The program included a theatrical performance and performances by folk groups, as well as a northern all-around contest.”RN-Uvatneftegaz” has been providing comprehensive assistance for many years to the representatives of the Khanty, Mansi, and Evenki of the Tyumen region. In recent years, the enterprise has handed over to the families of indigenous residents more than 180 units of equipment – snowmobiles, boat motors, and gasoline generators. With the support of “RN-Uvatneftegaz,” the “Wealth of the Uvat Taiga” festival, as well as competitions in national sports, are held annually.
In the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, volunteers from “RN-Purneftegas” and “Kharampurneftegas” for the first time organized a music festival in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the national village of the Nenets forest people of Kharampur, built by “Rosneft”. Participants of the corporate festival “Energy of Talents” from the town of Gubkinsky performed on the club stage, and for festival guests, a quiz on knowledge of national traditions, dedicated to the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, was held. Previously, with the support of “RN-Purneftegas,” scientists developed a unique set of didactic materials on the Nenets forest language.The research was conducted within the framework of a long-term grant program of the enterprise aimed at addressing social issues of the indigenous peoples of the North.
In the Krasnoyarsk Territory, with the support of “RN-Vankor,” as part of the annual forum “EcoArctic” in the village of Nosok and Sovetskaya Rechka, a national holiday – Reindeer Herder’s Day – was held. In honor of the Day of the Indigenous Peoples of Russia, oil workers organized a concert for the residents of the village of Karaul in Taimyr. On stage performed the winners of the “Energy of Talents” festival and national creative collectives. The oil workers of “RN-Vankor” also supported grant projects for the publication of an illustrated book-album “Masters of Taimyr,” dedicated to the traditional art of the indigenous peoples of the North and the creation of a studio of ancient bone carving art.
Previously, with the support of “RN-Vankor,” modern two-apartment residential buildings were constructed for the residents of the village of Karaul of the Taimyr Dolgan-Nenets municipal district of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Krasnoyarsk oil workers participate in co-financing the regional program for the resettlement of residents from dilapidated housing; 67 families have already moved into new apartments and houses.
“Vostochno-Sibirskaya neftegazovaya kompaniya” and “Slavneft-Krasnoyarskneftegaz” have allocated a joint grant for the implementation of the ethnocultural project “Living Thread of the North.” The project will unite the heritage of folklore, traditional crafts, and ornamental art of the Evenks in printed and digital formats. The illustrated album will describe everyday life, customs, beliefs, and the secrets of craftsmen. The digital version of the album will become the basis for an educational platform dedicated to the cultural heritage of the Evenks. The project is timed to the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia and will make a noticeable contribution to strengthening interethnic dialogue.
In Khabarovsk Krai, on the eve of the celebration of the Day of Indigenous Peoples of Russia, the team of the Komsomol NPC organized a Land Festival – “On Anyan” in the Nanai village of Verbnaya Ekoni. About 200 Komsomol members and villagers visited the ethnographic museum, attended the decorative and applied arts exhibition-fair, and participated in a master class on making national souvenirs. The event concluded with a concert of Nanai songs and dances performed by local creative teams. All interested parties tasted traditional recipes.
With the support of “Sakhalinmorneftegaz-Shelf,” a national culture festival “Living Spring” is being held in the Ulchsky District of Khabarovsk Krai, aimed at preserving the unique culture of the Ulchi – the people of Siberia and the Far East. The festival program includes master classes on making traditional souvenirs, tasting dishes of national cuisine, an exhibition of decorative and applied arts masters’ works, as well as performances by folklore ensembles.
Since cooperating with the indigenous peoples of Sakhalin and the Khabarovsk Territory since 2001, Sakhalin oil workers have supported a number of projects for preserving the culture and language of the indigenous peoples of the Far East. With the support of the enterprise, a series of textbooks for elementary grades in the Ulch and Nivkh languages has been developed and published, a Russian-Nivkh audio dictionary has been created, dozens of books reflecting the rich national culture of the indigenous peoples of the Far East have been published. For children, an animated film in the Nivkh language based on the folk tale “Shaman” has been created for the first time.
Department of Information and Advertising
PJSC “NK Rosneft”
April 30, 2026
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