The Association of Ethnographers and Anthropologists of Russia jointly with the N.N. Miklukho-Maklai Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology organized the X Congress of Ethnographers and Anthropologists of Russia on 2-6 July 2013 in Moscow. The project “A Networked System of Open Indigenous Knowledge Resources for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Polar Regions” implemented by the UNESCO IITE and the UNESCO Office in Moscow was presented at the Congress section devoted to the analysis of the lifestyle of the indigenous peoples of the North. In the framework of the project five multimedia modules based on the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples of the Arctic and Circumpolar will be elaborated. The introductory module will contain general information about the history of settlement of the Polar Regions, demographic characteristics, description of environmental factors affecting the livelihood of indigenous peoples, the impact of climate change on the environment.
Specialized modules will contain information on the development of the natural landscape, the traditional way of life and exploitation of natural resources by indigenous peoples, climate change adaptation and formation of the cultural landscape of the indigenous peoples living in different ecosystems (tundra, taiga, coastal areas of the Arctic Ocean, coastal ecosystem of the Far East) in the Nenets. Yamal-Nenets, Chukotka and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrugs and the Krasnoyarsk and Kamchatka Krais. The multimedia modules (in English and Russian) will be available on the Internet at a portal designed in Wikipedia-format. Participants of the Congress expressed their interest in the project. Russian and foreign experts confirmed relevancy and applicability of the project.