UNDP/GEF
Conservation of Biodiversity on Kamchatka's 4
Protected Areas
Ethno-ecological centers
Municipal department of culture
Menedek ethnographic cultural center, Anavgai village, Bystrinsky District, telephone: (242) 23-2-85Respect local traditions – reduce negative impact on nature and culture
In September 2004, 2 km from Anavgai village was created the Even gathering place “Menedek.” Over the course of 2.5 years, the collective decided to create a municipal department of culture and in January 2007 the Ethnographic Cultural Center “Menedek” was chartered. The mission of Menedek is the preservation and restoration of traditions, culture and culture of Even and Koriyak. This is done by presentation of cultural and aboriginal programs on the base of this Even center; concerts by aboriginal ensembles; collection and preservation of cultural heritage; development of tourism; organization and presentation of exhibitions of Native arts and crafts; active participation in village, district, regional and national folk and traditional festivals and activities.Stimulate joy, knowledge, and respect for local cultures
During the tourism season, we offer programs consisting of: 1) welcome to Even traditions, 2) excursions in our cultural center, 3) concerts by Even ensemble “Nurgenek” and “Oryakan”, 4) sampling of traditional foods and herbal teas in our yurt and at the campfire, 5) traditional games, 6) demonstrations of reindeer and horse riding, 7) exhibition of the material culture of Kamchatka’s aboriginal people.
Supports the local economy
Importantly, the activities of the ethnographic center Menedek have created many jobs in the village. Since January 2007, Menedek’s staff has grown to 11 people, mainly representatives of the local aboriginal people. For concerts, which include visits to the cultural camp, artists from the ensemble “Nurgenek” (14 people) and “Oryakan” (12 youth) receive payment.
A required part of visiting Menedek is the exhibition/sales of souvenir products. Masters from the Bystrinsky District have the opportunity to receive income from sales of their creations, which contributes to their budget, and importantly, many of these people are from economically disadvantaged families. Earlier, these people could only sell their souvenirs through middle-men, and it was very difficult for them to be successful as they had to deal somehow with the distant regional capital. As well these masters had no way to effectively market or advertise themselves.
For several years, Menedek cooperates with “Kamchatka Fitochai”, lead by N. N. Banokanova. Women offer samples of wild teas, cooked over a campfire in the yurt at the cultural camp, where they also explain about the traditional use of the teas. This organization is a part of the history of the center. As well, they are now receiving some stable income and advertisement of their product. Besides this, their masters often help the cultural camp, for example they demonstrate how to make containers out of birch bark.Family group “Andrianovka”
14 Berezovaya St., apt. 1, Esso, Bystrinsky District, Kamchatka Region, telephone: 8-902-462-0523, email: Ulnica65@mail.ru
Supports the local economy
Andrianovka is a registered nonprofit organization and pays taxes to the local budget. The policies of Andrianovka support local products and producers, including Olenevod Ltd., local service providers, transportation, guides, and accommodations. Andrianovka contributes to local development (local projects, education, mountain rescue, volunteer fire department, and give alternative sources of income for aboriginal populations). During preparation for and operation of a tour, we attract local aboriginal residents of the district, using as much as possible local services.
Visitors are motivated to buy necessities at local stores and from local producers. We attract visitors to our camp through advertisements thereby bringing visitors to stay in local hotels or guest houses, to use local guides, and thus we help to increase income to the local budget. For example we promote Olenevod Ltd., which sells its local products (reindeer meat, hides, and skins, etc.).
Andrianovka can offer direct benefits to those who make handmade souvenirs (Children’s Creative House, studio of O. A. Kochetkov, and other local residents). During summer, the cultural camp “Chau-chiv” gathers berries, especially low bush cranberries and we sell them to regional stores who resell them, making available natural Kamchatka berries for everyone.Stimulate joy, knowledge, and respect for local cultures
Just as part of the Bystrinsky District is located inside the Bystrinsky Nature Park, so it is very important that all guides are experienced and that many of these guides are aboriginal residents. Like no one else, they know the unique qualities of our nature and special character of our cultural heritage in this area. By attracting youth, who participate in seminars given under the UNDP/GEF project in Esso, Andrianovka and its collective actively promote the respect for our cultural heritage, local culture, nature, and share knowledge with visitors about this heritage.
Visitors to the camp “Chau-Chiv” become acquainted with the culture, traditions, and practices, traditional arts and crafts of the aboriginal residents of Kamchatka. As well for tourists we invite folklore ensembles to perform. On the camp visitors may try natural herbal teas, made from different vitamin-rich plants and berries, and try the traditional food including reindeer, fish soup, and fry bread.On the camp’s territory and guests may see flowering zhimilost, blue berries, low bush cranberries, Kamchatka huckleberry, and other plants. As well guests may see many kinds of Kamchatka mushrooms.
