The Saami segment of the Russian Internet in the context of cyberethnography

Abstract

The main directions of research of virtual network communities of Kola Sami in the Russian “ethnic Internet” are considered in the context of general problems of studying cyberethnicity. The historical review presents methodological grounds for the study of cyberethnicity, key issues, ideas, results of work devoted to the features of the representation of the ethnic identity of the Kola Sami of the Murmansk region through the online Sami cultural environment, as well as the development and functioning of Internet communities aimed at preserving and promoting Sami culture. One relevant aspect is the study of contemporary ethnic and sociocultural processes that are taking place in the social reality of the small indigenous people of the Kola North and reflected in the Sami ethnic Internet communities (sites, forums, blogs, social networking groups, etc.).