Fri, Jun 29, 2012
Circumpolar Studies broaden the view on Arctic Peoples
“My name is Valentina. I live in Arkhangelsk, the North-West of Russia. I am a linguist and a specialist in foreign languages and cultures. For a couple of years ago I got interested in circumpolar studies and joined the on-line courses at the University of the Arctic.”
When I was a little girl, I got a book of Sami fairy tales as a birthday present. Reading it I understood that the way of living of these people and their views on life differed a lot from that that the most of Russians had. Of course, at that time I knew nothing about what indigenous peoples were but even then I felt that there was something very special about them. Having taken part in the course “People and Cultures of the Circumpolar World” I got a great chance to learn more not only about the Sami but also about the other peoples that live on the territory of the Circumpolar North. Moreover, I would like to see the way these peoples live with my own eyes, to learn some of their trades and to get a touch upon their unique cultures.”
Valentina Kharina
the Northern (Arctic) Federal University,
Russia
the Northern (Arctic) Federal University,
Russia