Nenets and South Sámi project between Russia and Norway, Part 1

Sponsored by The Norwegian Barents Secretariat

In collaboration with the South Sami school in Hattfjelldal, we created a project to exchange knowledge with the Nenets culture in Russia. Painting, arranging peace workshops and exchanging paintings for exhibitions is a way to get to know each other's lives and build friendships across borders.

In total 60 people were involved in the project, of which 46 were youth from the Sámi culture in Norway and the Nenets culture in Russia.

The project was located in Naryan-Mar, the capital of the Nenets people and located on the "Great Tundra", between The Kanin Peninsula and The Yamal Peninsula.

 

We brought both students and teachers from the South Sámi School in Hattfjelldal, Norway. We were warmly welcomed by our partners in Naryan-Mar who gave us performances and in-person experiences to teach us about traditional Nenets Culture.

South Sámi children and youth from Norway joined in Peacepainting workshops with children and youth from the Nenets culture in Russia.

Peacepainting across borders

Children and youth from the South Sámi culture in Norway and the Nenets culture in Russia joined together in workshops.

Making friendships

Children and youth from the South Sámi culture in Norway and the Nenets culture in Russia joined together in workshops.

Some of the paintings created:

Part two of the project will take place in Norway, where we will invite our friends from Naryan-Mar to experience South Sámi culture in Hattfjelldal and Brasøy, Norway.