Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Sakha Diaspora Identity: comparative study of two Sakha communities in Eastern Siberia  (Sakha Diaspora Identity)

Outline
The objective of this project will be to conduct original research between two diaspora Sakha communities, which have been recently severed from the Sakha republic by the post-Soviet reforms. This research is essential since diaspora issues do not receive enough attention and articulation in anthropological studies of circumpolar area. My previous research (Argounova-Low 2004) has demonstrated that Sakha communities beyond the borders of the republic are vibrant and represent an interesting case for anthropological study. For example in a reindeer herding community of Sakha in the village of Essei in Evenkiia, the issues of identity are raised and discussed powerfully, particularly when it concerns distribution of state benefits. In my previous research, I have argued that the force for crystallizing identity of Sakha in small diaspora community is their minority position. In the proposed research I am aiming to compare Sakha diaspora communities located in Evenkiia and the Irkutsk district. The project will aim to study the boundaries of ethnic identity in Eastern Siberia and how identity is invigorated by political-geographical boundaries since the fall of the Soviet Union. Through an investigation of contemporary identity structures I hope to demonstrate the effect of market reforms upon identity arguments as well as to provide an ethnographic record of little known diaspora Sakha communities. Senior members of the team Dr. Lia Vinokurova-Kulakovskaia and Prof. Uliana Vinokurova are trained ethnographers and will be helping with their advice, consultations, whereas Dr. Tatiana Argounova-Low and Mrs. Maria Petrova will be doing the field-work. The team in the National Archive in Yakutsk (Dr. Natalia Komkova, Dr. Inna Yurganova and Mrs. Natalia Sokolova) will help with processing rich collection of unique data from numerous censuses, which is going to be used in this project to observe the ways of development of the Sakha diaspora in Irkutsk oblast’. An important aspect of this proposal is the ‘urgent’ ethnographic aspect of conducting fieldwork among the Sakha in Irkutsk oblast’. Like other diaspora communities it is poorly documented in the literature with only a scattering of studies in Russian in the 1930s and 1950s.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project will lead to a new understanding of how political and geographic borders have deep meaning for local populations. This will elucidate the human dimension of applied geographic and political work.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Irkutsk Oblast, Russian Federation Evenki Autonomous District, Russian Federation Sakha Republic, Russian Federaton.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 01/2007 - 06/2008            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
This is a proposal for fieldwork

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own national polar operator

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
There is not yet a mechanism for the endorsement of UK activities.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Exp

This is an expansion of field research sponsored by the Leverhulme foundation.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be managed by Dr. Tatiana Argounova-Low and administered by the University of Aberdeen.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The project will hold community meetings and publish results in local papers. All participants speak Russian, Sakha, and English

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
As per UK funding council guidelines, all data sets will be archived with the ESRC.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
IPY polar year funding from the ESRC UK

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Tatiana Argounova-Low
Dept of Anthropoloy
University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen
AB24 4QY
UK

Tel: 01224-272770
Mobile: no
Fax: 01224-273442
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation