Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

Inuvik ( Mar 03/00) - Natalia Barchenko says Canadians' patriotism is obvious.

"I am absolutely impressed by Canadians' love for their country," said the chair of the Association of Aboriginal Peoples of the Amur Region, in the Russian Far East.

Barchenko was part of the aboriginal delegation that visited Inuvik last week, after stopping by Niagara Falls, Ont.

"Our tour guide in Niagara Falls said this is our waterfall, the big one, and over there is the very eroded and not very deep one, and it belongs to the United States."

Married to an ethnic Russian, Barchenko is a member of the Nanai people, who she said only number 8,900 in Russia, but also include small groups in both China and Japan.

She described her Canadian trip as a wonderful chance to study the country and compare the conditions under which aboriginal people here live with that of Russia. She also said her meetings, including one with Nellie Cournoyea, CEO and chair of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, were well timed.

"We've already prepared a draft in my region for self-government, so that this visit is very timely," she said.

"Nellie said when they were signing their agreement they based it on the Alaskan approach because they already had their own agreement -- so we can learn from those who came before us."

Barchenko called the information-exchange pioneering and eye-opening, saying the Canadian process is much more transparent.

"In Hovarvask Territory, we know very little about Canada and its institution-building process," she said, "but after our Ottawa workshop I can say now I know more about self-government in Canada than in Russia; information is not accessible there."

Barchenko said, however, that not all her Canadian experiences were positive or would serve as appropriate models for Russia. She was particulary dismayed by the high unemployment at the Kainawa, Blood reserve outside Calgary.

But Aklavik restored her faith. The group was there Saturday before returning to Inuvik and was pleased to meet with community elders.

"One woman told us when she was young they were always frightened by stories about the Russians coming, and so said she had to come meet us face to face," said Barchenko. "She was really upset when we told her we were afraid of losing our own languages."

Barchenko said she found Nanai and Delta culture reassuringly similar, especially when it comes to foods they share in common like dried fish and bannock, or "tasima" in her own language.

Delegation member Alexander Omrypkir from Chukotka confirmed that his people share a similar culture with Canadian Northerners, and it is the loss of that culture that they fear most.

"In Kumchatka we want to hold reindeer and kayak races, but things like that cost a lot, and some people argue we need money to have bread and pasta not for fun and games," he said.

"But I believe that if we don't spend money on our culture now, no one will know how to do these things in 50 years."