Storytelling in Siberia

• Main Author: Harris, Robin P.
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: University of Illinois Press 2017
• Subjects: Sakha; Siberia
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.5622/illinois/9780252041280.001.0001

Significant historical, global, and political forces of the Soviet period undermined the performance practice of the Sakha olonkho epic in northeastern Siberia, impairing the potential for sustainability of this ancient song-story tradition. This book documents how the Sakha people have leveraged UNESCO’s 2005 proclamation of this genre as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” in their attempts to revitalize its performance practice. Foregrounding Sakha narratives, this case study examines the forces leading to the decline of olonkho during the Soviet era and the factors currently playing a role in the genre’s revitalization. In addition, this volume explores the appropriation of the olonkho tradition to express Sakha cultural identity in an increasingly globalized post-Soviet Russia and describes the transformations of olonkho as it adapts to change. Despite vigorous promotion of the revitalization process by the Sakha Ministry of Culture and the academic community, current levels of transmission and creative innovation do not foster adequate resilience for the survival of traditional olonkho as improvisationally performed by master olonkhosuts. In contrast, related genres such as theatrical olonkho and other multi-person olonkho performances enjoy increasing popularity and demonstrate many of the needed resilience markers for a sustainable future.