On the creation of a code of customary law for the indigenous peoples of the North

The right to take into account the customs and traditions of the indigenous peoples of the North (hereinafter referred to as the IPN) in legal proceedings (criminal, civil, and administrative) involving the IPN is a crucial element of the institution of protection of their rights and traditional way of life, as well as their ancestral habitat. However, this exclusive right of the IPN is rarely exercised, as their knowledge of customary law is fragmented and has not been extensively studied. The article outlines certain aspects of the theoretical and methodological foundations of the systematization of the customary law of the indigenous peoples of the North, mainly on the example of the Khanty and Mansi peoples, which will significantly improve their legal protection. The article provides information about the structure and content of the Code, as well as a number of methodological recommendations for its application. The article uses materials from interviews with representatives of indigenous peoples leading a traditional lifestyle, as well as lawyers involved in protecting the rights of indigenous peoples in the Kamchatka and Krasnoyarsk Territories, the Nenets Autonomous District, and the Irkutsk Region.