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The Sacred and the Scientific: Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Siberian River Conservation

2000; Wiley; Volume: 10; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/2641285

1939-5582

Kheryn Klubnikin, Cynthia A. Annett, Maria Cherkasova, Michail Shishin, Irina Fotieva,

Indigenous Studies and Ecology

Ecological ApplicationsVolume 10, Issue 5 p. 1296-1306 Article THE SACRED AND THE SCIENTIFIC: TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE IN SIBERIAN RIVER CONSERVATION Kheryn Klubnikin, Kheryn Klubnikin USDA Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 20250 USA Present address: IUCN-The World Conservation Union, U.S. Office, 1630 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20009 USA.Search for more papers by this authorCynthia Annett, Cynthia Annett Center for Russian and East European Studies, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045 USA Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Present address: Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center, Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence, Kansas 66046 USA. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorMaria Cherkasova, Maria Cherkasova Center for Independent Ecological Programs, Socio-Ecological Union, Box 67, Moscow, Russia 115407Search for more papers by this authorMichail Shishin, Michail Shishin Fund for 21st Century Altai, Gorno-Altaisk, Altai Republic, RussiaSearch for more papers by this authorIrina Fotieva, Irina Fotieva Fund for 21st Century Altai, Gorno-Altaisk, Altai Republic, RussiaSearch for more papers by this author Kheryn Klubnikin, Kheryn Klubnikin USDA Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 20250 USA Present address: IUCN-The World Conservation Union, U.S. Office, 1630 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20009 USA.Search for more papers by this authorCynthia Annett, Cynthia Annett Center for Russian and East European Studies, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045 USA Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Present address: Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center, Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence, Kansas 66046 USA. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorMaria Cherkasova, Maria Cherkasova Center for Independent Ecological Programs, Socio-Ecological Union, Box 67, Moscow, Russia 115407Search for more papers by this authorMichail Shishin, Michail Shishin Fund for 21st Century Altai, Gorno-Altaisk, Altai Republic, RussiaSearch for more papers by this authorIrina Fotieva, Irina Fotieva Fund for 21st Century Altai, Gorno-Altaisk, Altai Republic, RussiaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 October 2000 https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(2000)010[1296:TSATST]2.0.CO;2Citations: 26 Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Abstract The Katun River originates in the steppe of the Altai Mountains in Siberia. One of the major headwaters of the Ob River, the Katun is considered central to the culture of the indigenous Altaians. The Katun Valley contains large numbers of important cultural sites, dating from the Neolithic and representing some of the earliest human settlement in Russia. Modern-day Altaians still observe traditional ceremonies honoring the river and springs throughout the watershed and utilize traditional ecological knowledge in their management of the land and water resources. Russian and international scientists have identified the Altai Mountains as a region of high plant diversity and endemism, and as important habitat for endangered species such as the snow leopard. The Katun River itself contains species of threatened and endangered fishes, and its headwaters are part of the unusual Mongolian ichthyofaunal province that is characterized by high levels of endemism. The same regions are considered by the Altaian people to be special or sacred and are recognized by Western scientists as having great value for conservation. During the era of perestroika, a hydroelectric dam was to be built on the Katun. The large dam, a vestige of the earlier Soviet plan for the Project of the Century, would have devastated significant agricultural, ecological, recreational, and cultural resources. The indigenous Altaian people would have lost much of their sacred and cultural landscape. The Katun dam project united indigenous people, well-known Siberian writers, and scientists in protest, which became so heated that it engaged the international community, with lasting effects on Russian society. The magnitude of the protest illustrates the importance of the Altai Mountain region to all of Russia. The active participation of indigenous Altaians reflected their traditional willingness to take action against political decisions that negatively impacted the environmental, cultural, and religious values of their homeland. Their involvement also reflected the new wave of awareness under perestroika that underscored a greater respect and autonomy for indigenous peoples in Russia. Citing Literature Volume10, Issue5October 2000Pages 1296-1306 RelatedInformation