Fourth Festival of Northern Fishing Traditions, conceptualized by Olli Klemola, one of Snowchange founders in 2000s, brings over 40 international and Indigenous delegates to North Karelia to learn from restoration, river seining and Snowchange fisheries. Additionally dozens more will come from the Finnish villages.
4th September delegates will arrive in North Karelia.
5th September will be an international ‘Fisher’s Market and Exchange’ in Tohmajärvi, Snowchange HQ including workshops and information booths on all international fishers, Snowchange fisheries and restoration using latest science and traditional knowledge especially from Koitajoki, a wide-ranging restoration landscape supported by the Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme. The day will contain several events relevant to restoration, fisheries and waters.
6th September will be a day of field visits to see the unique river seining in the Koitajoki basin. Additionally the premiere of the Koitajoki Documentary and a public panel will take place in the evening. The documentary captures two years of work supported by Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme in Koitajoki basin and is directed by Koitajoki artist in residency Thomas Miller (USA).
7th September will include visits to restoration sites in the area that support fish, water quality and have included the work of fishers. In the afternoon and evening we will proceed with Cultural Programme including a performance of Jukka Takalo and Heli-Maria Latola, Koitajoki artists in residency, international cultural programme and other events.
The Festival is made possible by the generous support from the Endangered Seascapes and Landscapes Programme and one anonymous funder as well as the incredible efforts of many community fishers around the world who take the time to travel to the Festival from far away places like Western Greenland archipelago, Pacific Islands and Alaska. We recognize these efforts and salute them.
