There are cultural and economic differences, and even media. Afanasijev, whose people are known as the Evenk, points out aboriginal people in Russia don't have their own television channel.

And, he notes, specialized stores in Canada sell all kinds of native art. "There are no shops like that in Russia."

Afanasijev says, unlike Canada, aboriginal people in Russia are not involved in all aspects of the economy, such as oil and gas, nor do they operate their own companies. "In Russia, a lot of the economy is in the hands of monopolistic enterprises."

Afanasijev, who is an economic development co-ordinator from the Krasnoyarsk and Evenkia autonomous districts, was part of a 13-member Russian delegation which recently toured Canada, including a Nov. 29 stop on the Hay River Reserve.

Through an interpreter, he said Russians want to learn how Canadian aboriginal people live. "We would also like to learn more about what kind of legislation applies to aboriginal people."

The purpose of such visits is to help the Russians set up institutions and infrastructure for a free market society for aboriginal people without affecting culture. The visit was part of an ongoing Russia-Canada project to establish ties between the countries' aboriginal groups.

The delegation represented several regions of Siberia, a vast land of about 90 ethnic groups.

It also included representatives of the public government of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District.

"One of our purposes is to study Canadian life as it pertains to government practices with regard to indigenous people," said Vladimir Zhukov, the deputy head of the district's department of economy and investment policy.

Zhukov observed that aboriginal people in Canada are much more modernized than those of Siberia where, he says, many still live a nomadic existence herding reindeer. "It's a natural condition."

However, he says, such a lifestyle has also kept the culture of the people strong.

The Russian delegation was treated to a feast on the Hay River Reserve, along with displays of crafts and a demonstration of hand games and traditional drumming.

During its 12-day visit to Canada, the delegation also visited Yellowknife, Rae-Edzo and Fort Liard, along with Ottawa and Toronto.