Murmansk region fieldwork oral history

On By FstammleIn All, Fieldwork, oral history, Russian North, Sámi

Nina Meschtyb, postdoc research in our ORHELIA project, shares the following impressions from her fieldtrip

Privet from Murmansk region.
It is not very hot here – around 3-7 degree, but warm water was already
switched off at houses for the summer period.  I started my trip from Murmansk.
The bus arrived late in the
evening, so I stopped for couple of nights in Hostel “S-Terminal”. Meanwhile I
found that there is a place at the 4 beds resting house at the railway station. It
cost 600 rub., quite ok . It suited me perfectly, as far as railway station is
very much at the centre and just next to the bus station. Most
of my destinations have connections with bus, so I was well positioned.

Our elder friends, hosts, partners are at times in fragile health condition. We are extremely lucky to be able to talk to them while they feel well

This fieldtrip I decided to start from continuation of my connection with nice
peoples with whom I was acquainted during the trip in early March. So I went to
Olenegorsk.  In summer time people start an intensive migration – to summer
houses, relatives etc. When I went to Olenegorsk everybody was visiting
the cemetery – it was “Troitsa” church celebration, the day of the deceased. The
time to visit those who died.  Therefore, many talks connected with that…

“…my father was the last one who died in Kanevka village, after that soon
everybody moved to Loparskaja.  He asked to bury him here, why we didn’t
настояли na tom chtobi, that to bury him in Loparskaja?? Now we have to go
extra 3 km, to that old cemetery.
– You are lucky you have at least place where to go, the place where my parents
are buried are under the water…”
… The fieldwork for our orhelia’s topic in Murmansk region is special in that
way, that except for Lovosero saami population, and especial saami of old
generation are spread very much around the region 2 in Monchegorsk, 2 or so in
Teriberka, 2 in Verkhnetulomsky, 1 in Murmashi, 1 at Loparskaya end so on….So
one should be in very good connection to get knowing the names, addresses,
phone numbers.

The Sami in Russia have a long history of relocation all over the place, to settlements that do not look like indigenous villages at all

A Woman was from Teribirka invited me to join her to her trip to this village.
That would be nice to hear from her all the stories about surroundings; I think
it will be different from the talk in town’s apartments. BUT suddenly she gets
a cold and ear pain.  So I will wait with this trip now, and will try to
investigate what can find around.