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Paper short abstract

This paper explores how folklore archives in the Baltics and Scandinavia engage with ecological themes, focusing on the role of archived nature folklore in shaping public discourse amid climate concerns.

Paper long abstract

Estonians have a distinct narrative when it comes to land and nature. During the War of Independence (1918-1920), Estonian soldiers were promised plots of land as a means of boosting morale in the trenches. Estonians also see themselves as a forest nation - one among many globally who identify deeply with woodland landscapes.

Since its founding in 1927, the Estonian Folklore Archives has been collecting and archiving nature-related folklore from various perspectives. These efforts have complemented earlier collections and helped shape a growing body of cultural knowledge.

Amid global concerns about climate change, such folklore has increasingly entered public and political discourse - sometimes acting as a mediator in conflict (e.g., Päll, 2025), and at other times serving as a means of (re)connecting people with nature through creative projects, such as 'Enter Woodland Spirits', part of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 programme in Estonia.

In this context, I aim to explore the intersections of archival authority, traditional knowledge, and creative expression. Is nature a neutral topic, or a provocative one?

My focus lies on a range of recent projects supported by folklore archives in Scandinavia and the Baltics, examining how archives have chosen to present nature folklore to the public, what their intentions were, and how this material and the outcomes have been received by both creators and audiences.

References

Päll, Lona (2025). Bridging the disconnections: An ecosemiotic approach to place-lore in environmental conflict communication (Doctoral dissertation, University of Tartu). Tartu: University of Tartu Press.