As the ninth issue of the series “Estonian Settlements” (Eesti asundused), The Estonian Literary Museum has published a book about the medical knowledge of Siberian Estonians. Titled “The Folkloristic Medical Skills of Siberian Estonians” (Siberi eestlaste rahvapärased ravioskused), the book gives an overview of the
development of folkloristic medicinal knowledge and change in Siberian Estonian communities. As the senior researcher of the Estonian Literary Museum and compiler and editor of the book, Anu Korb states that, “the traditional living arrangements, peripheral placement of villages, and the magic of words has helped preserve older medicinal traditions and practices, and medicinal incantations.”
Throughout this fresh publication, the reader will discover how Siberian Estonians acquired and passed on folk medicine skills, what could be done to maintain your health and wellbeing, which methods were used to treat various illnesses. This book enables you to take a peek into the development and changes of folk medicine knowledge within Siberian Estonian communities.
The publication, featuring a great selection of archival photos, was designed and layout was done by Merike Kask, the language editor was Inge Annom, the English resume was translated by Kait Tamm, and the project lead was Risto Järv.
The series “Estonian Settlements” has been published since 1995. Topics covered so far have included the folklore of various Siberian regions, the biographical and village life memoirs of Estonians born in Russia, and observations of collectors of folklore from field work in Siberia.