Wayfinders Circle 2022 Annual Report - Flipbook - Page 27
SELECTED INVESTMENTS
Udege
Community
RUSSIA
The Udege community in Russia number about
1,600 people, and inhabit more than 1.5 million hectares of pristine boreal forest of the subarctic Bikin
region of Russia. Their territory makes up the Bikin
National Park, which they co-manage with the Russian
government. This model4unique for Russia4recognizes,
respects, and protects Indigenous Peoples9 rights to
their territory and values their traditional knowledge of
resource management.
The co-management agreement recognizes Udege
traditional knowledge and customary law. The Permanent Council of Indigenous Peoples was established to
lead and consult on all issues related to Indigenous
Peoples and their rights. Composed of 12 Indigenous
members, the council includes hunters, elders, women,
and youth who hold weekly meetings to discuss issues
related to activities such as hunting, ûshing, passing on
of traditional knowledge, and ecotourism.
The Udege community is also promoting the cooperation and increasing communication between rural and
urban Udege under the project period. The whole
process is strongly contributing to the Udege cultural
and linguistic heritage, motivating youth to value and
learn their mother tongue.
In 2022, the Udege worked on recovering and publishing some of their traditional knowledge (some aspects
are kept in the community as sacred secrets). This
strengthens the identity of young people and prevents
future loss of knowledge. During Soviet times, traditional knowledge was forbidden and destroyed, and lost.
The Udege developed and published an Udege
Traditional Knowledge Catalogue for the ûrst time in
Russia's history. The catalogue includes the Udege
knowledge on traditional medicine and food, nature
use and housing, literature and sports, among others.
This is part of a broader process of increasing an
understanding and commitment of the Udege about
the role and meaning of traditional knowledge as both
a cultural heritage, and as a tool for forest management and community development. Additionally, it
provides a positive inûuence for the younger generation, and increases awareness of municipal authorities
and other stakeholders.
WAY F I N D E R S C I R C L E
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ANNUAL REPORT
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2022
27