Indigenous presence and belonging in urban areas: the case of the urban Komi homemaking and place-naming

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

The article investigates Indigenous belonging and presence in urban areas by focusing on Indigenous experiences of urban settling, homemaking, mobility, and place-naming. Particular attention is given to the role of human–environment interactions in these processes. The empirical data derives from interviews, cartographic records, and long-term research with urban-dwelling коми | Komi (the Indigenous people of the Komi Republic, Russia). The article reveals significance of urban-to-rural mobility for people’s well-being while also highlighting the equal importance of human–environment interactions in fostering Komi belonging and homemaking in the city. It underscores the importance of Indigenous toponyms and the potential of non-Indigenous place names in asserting Indigenous presence. Additionally, it addresses the challenges surrounding the use of Indigenous place names in the context of changing people-place relationships and language shift.