#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. Ethnological expertise in Taimyr is moving to the analytical stage. The ethnographers of the project research department of the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography named after Peter the Great (Kunstkamera) Elena Perevalova, Tatiana Kisser, as well as the president of the Association of Indigenous Minorities of Taimyr Grigory Dyukarev.
Let us remind you that ethnological expertise was launched last year at the initiative of the association.
Tatiana Kisser, candidate of historical sciences, senior researcher of the Kunstkamera’s project research department, said that the analytical stage will include not only the processing of the collected materials, but also archival work. The Dudinka archive contains excellent materials. They will be used to prepare publications and reports.
In addition, the Museum after Peter the Great contains unique materials on the history of the indigenous peoples of Taimyr, collected by famous Soviet ethnographers. They are also planned to be introduced into scientific circulation, so the analytical stage will be quite long. Scientists hope that research in Taimyr will continue.
“If we talk about specific research: we studied the indigenous peoples of Taimyr and considered their cultural potential. Of course, the oil spill that occurred last year was the trigger, and it is important for us to see how some of the most adaptive peoples of the North react to these events. And also the problem of the absence of a law on ethnological expertise is acute”, said Tatiana Kisser.
Upon completion of the analytical stage at the end of June 2021, scientists will create a report that will be submitted to the Association of Indigenous Peoples of Taimyr.
Scientists used both classical and modern research methods. For example, an interview via a messenger, when it was necessary to collect information from residents of remote settlements. The longest cyber interview lasted five hours.
Scientists expect that the results of the study will be included in the book Ethnological expertise in Taimyr, which will be presented in late 2021 or early 2022.
If research on the peninsula continues, the result may be a large fundamental work on the entire ethnocultural panorama of indigenous peoples. And with the assistance of the association, a new ethnography of the peoples of Taimyr can be prepared.
The scientists paid special attention to the study of the project activities of the indigenous minorities. They worked with the Taimyr House of Folk Art and the City Cultural Center in Dudinka, studied various projects – from the camps creation to souvenirs production. All this will be presented not only in the book, but also in separate publications.
“I have just returned from Karaul, and we discussed the issue of ethnobrands with representatives of the association. It is in the trend nowadays. We agreed that we will analyze the state of ethnocultural projects that are being carried out on the Taimyr territory, give some kind of assessment and, perhaps, suggest some development as experts”, noted Elena Perevalova, doctor of historical sciences, leading researcher of the Kunstkamera’s project research department.
As the president of the Association of Indigenous Minorities of Taimyr, Grigory Dyukarev noted, they tried to use the arrival of scientists to the maximum. Researchers talked about their work in village schools, houses of culture, talked with elders, with a wide variety of population segments.
The Association hopes that industrial companies will respond to the recommendations that the scientific community will develop.
“We are on the cusp of major industrial developments. Rosneft, Surgutneftegaz, Lukoil are coming to us. What are socially responsible companies? These are the companies that participate in the life of indigenous peoples, as Nornickel does. There should be an active dialogue, active interaction”, said Grigory Dyukarev. “Now we are at the stage of creating rules for living in the Arctic, that will help preserve the Arctic and the people living in it”.
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Text: Angelica Stepanova, Photo: Tatiana Kisser and Elena Perevalova
