In part two of our project to lift minorities and create friendship across borders, we invited our partners from the Nenets culture in Russia to visit Norway and experience South Sámi culture.

In total eight children/youth, three school leaders and one journalist from Russia came to Hattfjelldal and Brasøy, Norway. Two of the participants came from the island of Kolgujev in the Barents Sea while the others came from Naryan-Mar, the capital of the Nenet people located on the "Great Tundra", between The Kanin Peninsula and The Yamal Peninsula.

Last year, Peacepainting visited Naryan-Mar for a week and had painting workshops with the theme Peace and Friendship across borders. Joining the project were teachers and students from the South Sámi school in Hattfjelldal. In this year’s part two, the young people from Naryan-Mar came for a return visit to further strengthen the bond and enable more participants from the South Sámi and Nenets minorities participate.

To let our from Naryan-Mar experience traditional Sámi culture, we organized a trip to gapahuken on Svartåsen, and a day trip with M/K Leiskjær with fishing.

An important part of the exchange was to hold joint painting workshops with youth from the Sámi culture and Nenets culture at Brasøy Galleriet.

At the local Youth House «Bølgen», we also created a cultural event for all residents and visitors in Brasøy. After a fantastic volunteer effort on Brasøy, there was space for over 130 people. Here, the young participants from Naryan-Mar had wonderful performances showing stories about life on the tundra as well as traditional Nenets dancing and singing. The Norwegian youth performed traditional Sámi songs called yoik and there was also a mini concert with Brasøy Brass.

“I would especially like to thank little Karina who pushed away the microphone, and wanted to use her own voice. There were many wet eyes during the performance, not least mine, because this was a strong and emotional experience. It is sensational that a group comes from the most Northern part of Russia to perform on our little island Brasøy.”

- Bjørn Økern, organizer

This was an exchange that truly cemented our friendship as well as understanding about our important minority cultures in the North.

See Part 1 of the project here.