ABSTRACT
It is part of the considerable achievements of Juha Pentikainen that he has greatly increased our knowledge of minority peoples in the north – in Scandinavia, Russia and Siberia; and he has greatly stimulated modern research into circumpolar peoples. It is an obvious fact that these peoples are not numerous as far as population goes, in northern Europe and Siberia. First, the conception of the land is liable to differ greatly between traditional shamanic society and that of the great power surrounding it. Second, the small group may be fighting to preserve its language. Third, schools have a prominent role in reviving the culture. Fourth, in arty case, matters such as manufactured food, foreign alcohol, television and so forth will have changed indigenous society immensely. In many ways the Native American and the Siberian vision quest, in being solitary and ascetic; reflects the mystical way.
