‘Soul of Russia. The North’ Project to Be Presented at ‘Civil Initiatives of the 60th Parallel Regions’ Forum

The Innosocium Foundation, the social platform of the Roscongress Foundation, will present the cultural programme for the ‘Soul of Russia. The North’ audio-visual project at the ‘Civil Initiatives of the 60th Parallel Regions’ International Humanitarian Forum in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District city of Kogalym on 21–22 November. The project is part of the track ‘Social and Cultural Initiatives and Best Non-Profit Projects in Creative Entrepreneurship’ during the events of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023, which are managed by the Roscongress Foundation.

“The events of the forum’s cultural programme provide an excellent platform to develop interregional cooperation among young people. The development of projects with a clear social focus on the Indigenous population of the Arctic is one of the key goals of our policy in the Russian North. I am certain that the interest of the forum participants will provide a fresh impetus for this work and result in the emergence of new initiatives,” said Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the Russian President and Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee for Russia’s Chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023.

“Six of the nine cities beyond the Arctic Circle with a population of more than 100,000 people are located in Russia. They need adequate social infrastructure, cultural, and sports facilities. Building on permafrost with its harsh features is difficult, but necessary. Our future is connected with the Arctic, and the ‘Soul of Russia. The North’ project shows us how attractive the future should be at the 60th parallel,” Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic Alexey Chekunkov said.

The cultural programme will include five public talks that will be attended by experts and opinion leaders from the creative and social sectors. 

“One of Russia’s key priorities as chair of the Arctic Council is to develop human capital, including the Indigenous peoples of the North. Russia has proposed multiple projects and initiatives: in particular, for the digitalization of the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Indigenous peoples of the Arctic and the development of creative industries in the Arctic and traditional Arctic medicine. Holding cultural events similar to the ‘Soul of Russia. The North’ project will draw the public’s attention to the development of the social sector in the northern territories and the preservation of the cultural and linguistic heritage of Arctic ethnic groups,” said Nikolay Korchunov, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Arctic Senior Officials.

The ‘Soul of Russia. The North’ audio-visual project will include an ethnic show of musical and dance groups. The forum’s participants and guests will be treated to special thematic programmes by Yakut hip-hop performers KitJah and MOSKILA featuring DJ Gudeykon, the Khaytnut Eryg ethno group, the Smola dance group, the Yudi Theatre of Modern Choreography from Tomsk, and Vera Kondratyeva and Dance company INSIDE. The audience will also view the Arctic Mix audio-visual performance with kinetic 3D objects, a laser show, and ethnic music. During the show’s finale, representatives of Indigenous peoples – Chulyms, Ketos, and Selkups – will perform modern musical genres using the traditions of throat singing and drums made from the skin of Siberian red deer. Participants and guests of the Eastern Economic Forum in September 2022 in Vladivostok previously had a chance to see the ‘Soul of Russia. The North’ pilot project on the stage of the Far East Street exhibition.

            “Support for public projects and civil initiatives that aim to preserve the country’s common cultural space and promote the historical and cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia is a priority task. The modern interpretation of the age-old traditions of the northern peoples is a humanitarian project that helps to understand our common roots, unify cultural codes, and develop values ​​in harmony with nature,” Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District-Yugra Governor Natalya Komarova said.

The ‘Civil Initiatives of the 60th Parallel Regions’ International Humanitarian Forum aims to unite the efforts of socially oriented non-profit organizations to support a humanitarian dialogue, maintain civil peace and harmony in Russian society, as well as develop private civil initiatives for the sustainable development of the country in the current conditions.

Russia is the chair of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023. One of Russia’s main priorities is to develop human capital in the region, including the Indigenous peoples of the North. Russia devotes special attention to maintaining the sustainability and viability of the peoples of the North, promoting measures to adapt them to climate change, improving people’s well-being, health, education, and quality of life, and ensuring sustainable socioeconomic development throughout the region. The Russian side has initiated projects to digitalize the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Indigenous peoples of the North, develop renewable energy sources, create an international Arctic research station that runs on carbon-free energy, and ensure biosecurity in the Arctic. In addition, Russia is preparing draft proposals on the traditional medicine of Indigenous peoples and the development of creative industries in the Arctic, and is working on an initiative to create Digital Museums of the Arctic.