Current problems of preserving ethno-cultural heritage were discussed at Yugra State University

Yugra State University hosted the City Scientific and Practical Conference "Indigenous Peoples in the Modern World: Current Problems of Preserving Ethno-Cultural Heritage".

University students and staff, representatives of cultural institutions of Yugra, and public organizations of the city, attended the event.

In her welcoming speech to the participants of the meeting, Tatiana Gogoleva, deputy of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Yugra of the seventh convocation, member of the Assembly of Representatives of Indigenous Peoples of the North, member of the Committee on Legislation, Regional Structure and Local Self-Government, noted that every region, every land has its own content.

"There are cultures that have been developed in their original origin, therefore, despite the remoteness of indigenous peoples and the district centre itself. Despite the fact that the indigenous peoples of Yugra are scattered all over the territory of the Autonomous Okrug, the development of their cultural heritage, social and economic development is very important! And today we have gathered to draw attention to the value of preserving traditional art," Tatiana Stepanovna shared.

The conference discussed issues related to the preservation of folk art, traditional crafts of the indigenous peoples of Yugra, and linguistic heritage.

Young scientists made presentations in the following sections: "Folk Art", "History. Ethnography. Archaeology" and "Philology".

"I enjoyed the conference very much, there were very interesting presentations. I would like to highlight Alyona Vladimirovna Rodionova and Natalia Viktorovna Sainakova with their project "About Yugra: Open Research". I believe that the topic of history and ethnography of indigenous peoples is important to study in order to understand the history of the development of the region and the country as a whole, to highlight the current problems of indigenous peoples", - shared Denis Filatov, a student of Yugra State University, specialising in Environmental Management.

"I believe that every person should know his or her origins, history and traditions.  It is important and necessary to share this heritage with our and the next generation. This is how we enrich the culture of Russia: we preserve what we already have and bring something new, leave our mark in history.

I presented a report in the Philology section, in which I conducted a free associative experiment, in other words, I looked at what ethnic or cultural stereotypes the word "chum" (raw-hide tent) evokes in people. I really liked the way the event was organised. There were many sections, interesting guests and speakers. Listening to other reports, we learnt a lot of new things for ourselves and became more immersed in the culture of indigenous peoples of the region," said Valeria Kochneva, a student of Philology.

Vadim Disbiyanov, a student specialising in "Journalism", in his research work analysed what associations the word "Khanty" evokes.

"I made a report on the topic "word-stimulus "Khanty": modelling of linguistic consciousness through associative experiment". In the process of working on the report I realised that knowledge about the indigenous peoples of the North is rather superficial and stereotypical. Northern peoples have an amazing culture, that is why such conferences are so important: history should not be forgotten. It should be studied and loved," the young man noted.