Evenki fire and forest ontology in the context of the wildfires in Siberia

Abstract

The Siberian taiga is the homeland and source of economic, spiritual and social well-being for many indigenous Evenki mobile and settled communities, while their land rights still remain unresolved. More than 9 million hectares of forest was burnt across six Siberian and Far East regions in the summer of 2019. Siberian wildfires have been used as a political resource by different political forces inside and outside Russia, pushing local and federal authorities to strengthen their policy towards forest management. In my article, based on literary, archival, internet and field sources, a wide range of possible causes for the Siberian wildfires, varying from climate change to illegal logging is considered. Meanwhile many Evenki respondents believe global changes are caused by violation of moral laws both by indigenous and non-indigenous people. For the Evenki, the forest is a big communicating matrix in terms of connectedness, interdependence and mutual responsibility. The Evenki still regard wildfires as a punishment inflicted on humans by high spirits. The multifunctionality of fire determines its economic, cultural, spiritual, social and environmental significance in Evenki culture. Living in the forest Evenki practice careful handling of fire. My aim is to include Evenki animistic philosophy and fire management into the world debate about global environmental changes.