February 26, 2001 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern British Columbia is collaborating with Yakutsk State University of Russia to offer one of Canada's most unique summer field schools.

From mid-May to late August, up to 25 university students will be in Siberia, gaining a first-hand knowledge of the peoples and cultures of Russia's Far East. The program will include Russian language training, courses in ethnography (the study of human culture), the opportunity to participate in research projects, and a three-week stay in a remote village where the primary activity is reindeer herding. Because the course load will equal a full semester, students in the program will be able to qualify for student loans. The estimated cost of the field school is approximately $6,000, including return airfare.

"Siberia is a fascinating part of the world and the students who join us for this field school will gain a profound understanding of the geography, history, and culture of the region," says Michel Bouchard, a UNBC Anthropology professor who has organized the program. "Unlike other field schools in BC, this one will be available to students who are still completing their bachelor's degree."

The deadline for applications is April 2, 2001. Students signing up for the field school should have previously taken at least two Anthropology courses. Students are invited to apply online at www.unbc.ca/anthropology/fieldschool.

"UNBC clearly has its sights set on the North, and this field school will increase understanding of another northern region," says prof. Bouchard. "It's our intention to offer this program in other northern locales in the future: places such as Nunavut, Scandinavia, or Alaska."