The Nenets Dictionary of a Nomad is a digital encyclopedia of the Nenets way of life and language in the form of an interactive learning virtual reality application. The viewer wearing virtual reality glasses gets acquainted with the basics of the Nenets language, interacting with objects of Nenets life and elements of the natural landscape. Materials for the application are video recordings of the life of Nenets reindeer herders and their surrounding nature, made using 360-degree panoramic video technology, digital 3D copies of household items and elements of the natural environment, and audio recordings of their Nenets names. Work on the project was carried out in the Tukhardskaya tundra, in a family of nomadic Nenets reindeer herders. The project's main focus is on preserving the heritage of the cultural traditions and language of the Nenets people, while leveraging the possibilities of new media to popularize it both among the bearers of the Nenets culture and among people who live with Nenets in the same territory. VR video captures what is happening as fully as possible and provides a deep immersion in the life of modern nomads and the beauty of the tundra nature.
The Nenets culture is one of the original and best-preserved traditional cultures of the indigenous peoples of the north. Despite the ever-deeper penetration of modern technologies, these people appreciate their way of life, cultural traditions, and language. At the same time, Nenets reindeer herders lead a secluded lifestyle, and their contact with the outside world is minimal. Preserving linguistic diversity is a task that is becoming increasingly difficult due to globalization and the pressure of dominant languages. Languages are disappearing, and it is important not only to preserve them in the form of scientific knowledge and archives but also to popularize them, including among native speakers. The authors are convinced that new media technologies can be a means of attracting interest in rare languages and traditional cultures, including within the framework of the educational process.
Installation is presented in the Museum of Norilsk and the Cultural Center of Dudinka. There are 2 copies of the installation with VR helmets in both cities, so visitors and citizens can use it permanently. In June, several copies of the work will be transferred to the centers of national Nenets culture in Naryan-Mar and Salekhard cities, so all the regions where Nenets people live will have access to the work.