Esimesed teadmised kaovad. Komi välitööde kogemus teeleidmisest, ilmast ja asjade korrast

First knowledge is lost. Komi fieldwork experience of wayfinding, weather, and the order of things This article reflects on the first ethnographic field data collected by the author in 1996 among Komi hunters. The topics covered during the first encounter between the author and his field partners involved discussions on the practices of wayfinding. These conversations also encompassed weather conditions and broader questions concerning how Komi hunters see the world around them. The article combines a discussion of ethnographic field observations with data from scholarly literature and an autoethnographic analysis of the author’s own forest experience and the construction of ethnological knowledge. As people deeply accustomed to the forest environment, the Komi hunters demonstrated both general knowledge and detailed expertise related to wayfinding. The author’s field partners discussed various natural cues used for orienting oneself in the forest, as well as the system of signs employed for marking their path. The hunters often emphasized that leaving minimal tracks in the forest was essential in order to prevent poachers from finding their traps and snares. Furthermore, the hunters considered deliberate marking of routes as unnecessary, given that they can memorize the forest environment quite easily. Another issue often discussed by the hunters involved weather patterns, which they preferred to remain stable over the years. The Komi hunters’ knowledge of their environment and wayfinding skills appeared both specific and broadly applicable, allowing insight into both the particular competencies of the hunters and their more expansive views of the surrounding world. An ethnographer’s capacity to fully comprehend this knowledge remains limited, however, as practical skills and experience always lag far behind the hunters’ talent.