The project:

"Translation with latin and the pablish of a historical and cultural monument of XVII century. I.Sheffer "Lapponia"

World of the editor's

The idea of creation of this project has been dictated by concern in a worsening ecological, social and ethnic situation on Kola peninsula. The complex conditions inherent in Murmansk area, that she accustomed with obvious infringement of bases of steady development, continues to be aggravated on a background of the general instability and spontaneity of the Russian market. Thus nobody is interested in preservation Arctic ecosistem more, than her aboriginals and for anybody the northen country is not the native house in the greater degree, than for them. For this reason, instead of because of abundance of resources, Arctic regions represents one of the major national properties of our Planet.

Aboriginals of Russian Lapland - lopary (saamy), and also nency, komi-ijemcy, pomory, by virtue of the origin and historical development have the right to preservation of a traditional way of life. Therefore, at modelling processes of steady development of this Arctic region, called to provide equality of interests of the present and future generations it is necessary to take into account, first of all, historical and cultural features of residing of people in Polar. That is why adapted use of a historical and cultural heritage can help us with the decision of many ecological, economic and social problems.

 "Lapponia" - one of the very first books of XVII century from whom the World has learned about a history, the nature, culture and a life of indigenous population of Russian Lapland - lopary (saamy). Her author, John Sheffer, in 1648 has been invited to a post of the professor of rhetoric and a policy in Academy of Uppsala (Sweden). All subsequent life Sheffer collected materials about Lapland and lapps. A result of laborious work of the scientist became in 1674 the historical and cultural treatise "Lapponia" - the first encyclopaedic description of a history of a life lopary (saamy).

 Thirty five chapters "Lapponia" cover such themes as an origin, language, a residence, clothes, manual crafts, patrimonial customs, hunting and fisher, education of children, extraction of metals, flora and fauna of Lapland, and also religious beliefs saamy.

By present time "Lapponia" it is issued in many European languages, except for Russian. To tell the truth, in 2000, three small chapters from "Lapponia" Sheffer have been published in the almanac "Vivid Arctic" and have received a high estimation from indigenous population of Russian Lapland - saamy and at many other inhabitants of Murmansk area.

(See on a site of the almanac "Vivid Arctic"  http://www.arctic.org.ru/new/sheff.htm).

For today the almanac "Vivid Arctic" (including his site in the Internet) is, as a matter of fact, the unique periodical in Northwest of Russia for the decision of historical and cultural and ecological-educational problems. For these purposes the edition has been registered in the Ministry of Press and the information of the Russian Federation. Since 1996 has left already more than 20 releases of the almanac "Vivid Arctic", the general circulation more than 50000 copies. All of them, (using support of sponsors), were free-of-charge transferred in libraries and educational institutions of the Russian Arctic regions. (See on a site of the almanac "Vivid Arctic"  http://www.arctic.org.ru).

 Continuing the traditions under publications of archival materials on a history of peoples of Barents-region Information centre «Vivid Arctic», together with Association Kola saamy, suggests to prepare within 2006 for printing an original - breadboard model and to issue special release of the almanac «Vivid Arctic» with the thematic name - "Lapponia". For the first time in Russian (in translation with latin) the historical and cultural treatise "Lapponia" with the expanded comments on a history, the nature, culture and a life of indigenous population of Lapland - lopari (saamy) will be submitted to readers.

 The international value of the project is difficult for overestimating, as I. Sheffer "Lapponia" represented to readers describes a history of an origin, cultural development and ways of joint residing behind Polar circle of four related ethnoses - saamy in Norway, Finland, to Sweden and Russia, and will promote the even greater development of a good-neighbourhood between modern inhabitants of Russian Lapland and the Scandinavian countries. The correct understanding the broad audience of people (switching and politicians) historical and cultural features of indigenous population of Russian Lapland - saamy, will promote more rational decision of problems of steady development in the field of protection of the rights of the native population sharply worth today before the population of Kola peninsula.

 Release of such number can represent the big interest not only as the fascinating book for reading by a wide audience (in number will be more than 200 archival illustrations and maps XV-XVII of centuries), but also as the manual on ecology and study of local lore for pupils and students of Barents-region (including pupils Scandinavian the countries, studying Russian). Printed volume of release not less than 500 pages of format ю4.

A cover color, from a dense paper. It is supposed to transfer free-of-charge all circulation of number in libraries and educational institutions of Barents-region.

 Today, during time of activity developing contacts to the international community and promptly growing interest of all world to the Russian Arctic regions, development of the uniform and integral doctrine of her steady development guaranteeing the rights and high quality of environment and, hence, and a standard of living to her population is especially important. It would be desirable to trust, that this project in process of forces will promote the decision of this problem.

Valery Berlin

E-mail: valeraberlin@rambler.ru