Most of us grew up in schools with the story of natural selection and rivalry, in which life forms compete for survival, and in which people have won and became the pinnacle of evolution. In XXI century this story has brought our civilization to the edge of catastrophe with a depleted environment and human culture. Now is the time for a different story – the story in which we all are interconnected parts of the whole, and the evolution happens through cooperation…
NEW FILM – SÁMI VOICES
In search of answers to the complex crises of our days, we turn more and more towards teachings of the nations that had lived on earth sustainably for thousands of years long before the modern industrial civilization. Puzzled with profit and loss game, resource mining and disruption of the ecosystem that had fed us since the dawn of time, we find ourselves in the face of global collapse and, eventually, seek to listen to the Voices that our civilisation suppressed.
A year ago a few of us from the community 'We Here' went for the expedition to Jokkmokk, in Sapmi – the land of Sámi people, nowadays divided between Norway, Finland, Sweden and North-West of Russia. Sámi are the only officially recognised indigenous people left in Europe. We wanted to understand what force allows the people to remain true to their roots despite two centuries of oppression. What shall we learn from them now, when and if it's not too late? We spoke with a few Sámi people, sensed the landscape; we packaged this experience into a short film – thanks for the creative work of Kata Kubareva. The film brought together many questions, and possibly answers: from indigenous knowledge to the story of a modern man, from climate change to resilience, from vulnerability of the indigenous people to their timeless strength.
Новая история Земли
Мультфильм с пояснениями
Imagine that once, humanity forgot the language that we could speak in order to understand one another. This language was the knowledge connecting us beyond borders of lands, cultures, races, faiths, personal inclinations and bodily features. With this language we were able to understand even those whose voices we cannot hear, and those whose characters are different from ours. From this ancient language, now only its tools survived: music and lyrics, canvases and brushes, living and playing. These tools which we nowaday call art remind us that we used to know how to listen and speak in a different way – It is through them that we can co-create and, in the process, learn to hear the voices that are often unheard, including our own inner voices.
WHO WE HERE ARE?
Having gathered in 2018 as a team of like-minded people from diverse actions for change, we started a joint exploration of the roots of discrimination against nature and marginalized groups in the society, in order to support each other in the work that concern us. An ecosystem of communities and people intertwined by common questions and intentions has gradually grown, and now there are no clear boundaries: We Here are informal groups with alternative ways of living, cultural and ethnic minorities, defenders of nature and human rights, people with special needs. We as a whole are a part of the worldwide movement that stands for the freedom of being ourselves and a shared responsibility for peace on earth. We Here symbolises a non-violent presence, even when this presence is neglected – We Are Here even when we are not heard. Re-learning about ourselves and others, We Here are on the edge of the old world and the beginnings of a new culture.
Immersing into the dawn's silence, you will hear the whisper of a new world. A world of support and understanding, shared knowledge and creativity, freedom and trust. Deep within, everyone carries such a world. We Here nourish the threads stretching from heart to heart, connecting all living things. Among the wars we find the paths for connection, among the ruins we raise new gardens.
At first sprouting imperceptibly we are growing stronger, as a part of the global journey paving the way. We are already here – the voices which are to be heard. We are part of a global change towards acceptance of the significance of each living form, each individual, and our shared responsibility for the world. We Here – the embodiment of inner strength through creativity, non-violent interaction and authentic being.
At first sprouting imperceptibly we are growing stronger, as a part of the global journey paving the way. We are already here – the voices which are to be heard. We are part of a global change towards acceptance of the significance of each living form, each individual, and our shared responsibility for the world. We Here – the embodiment of inner strength through creativity, non-violent interaction and authentic being.
Gatherings and events
We are the air. Not the chest that breathes us.
We are the word. Not the lips that pronounce us.
We are the step. Not the feet that are stepping us.
We are the beating. Not the heart that beats us.
We are the bridge. Not the land that connects.
We are the way. Not the point of arrival or departure.
We are the place. Not the one who takes it.
We do not exist. We just are.
© Zapatista poem
We are the word. Not the lips that pronounce us.
We are the step. Not the feet that are stepping us.
We are the beating. Not the heart that beats us.
We are the bridge. Not the land that connects.
We are the way. Not the point of arrival or departure.
We are the place. Not the one who takes it.
We do not exist. We just are.
© Zapatista poem
To contact us
Poem:
The original website continues here with a poem about Us Here which is not translatable. In short, it pictures the image of modern dervishes of asphalt roads who gathered together in a sincere trust for a new world to be created despite the authorities and borders. From a forgotten wasteland they are walking towards the dreams of freedom, weaving the old knowledge and modern aspiration in their music, lyrics and roleplays.
В глуши на пустоши
Асфальтовых дорог дервиши
Слушали, дышали, слышали
Собравшись в домах заснеженных
Вопреки всех войн бешенства
Надеждой на мир тешились
Вопреки человеческой горечи
Души свои скрещивали
Семена эти взращивали
Простоту со сложностью смешивая
В тепле друг друга нежились
Боль растворяли дивностью
Соприкосновения
В спорах и в близости
Учились терпению
Вышестоящих властей низменность
Классового большинства мнение
Вопрошали искренностью
Сердцебиения
Останки старинной письменности
И нового времени рвение
Соединяли в образах, играх, стихах и пении
Внешними границами стиснутые
К свободе растили стремление
Здесь, на прошлого пустоши
Будущего мечты лелеяли
Слушали, дышали, слышали
Просыпающейся Реки течение.
©We Here
The original website continues here with a poem about Us Here which is not translatable. In short, it pictures the image of modern dervishes of asphalt roads who gathered together in a sincere trust for a new world to be created despite the authorities and borders. From a forgotten wasteland they are walking towards the dreams of freedom, weaving the old knowledge and modern aspiration in their music, lyrics and roleplays.
В глуши на пустоши
Асфальтовых дорог дервиши
Слушали, дышали, слышали
Собравшись в домах заснеженных
Вопреки всех войн бешенства
Надеждой на мир тешились
Вопреки человеческой горечи
Души свои скрещивали
Семена эти взращивали
Простоту со сложностью смешивая
В тепле друг друга нежились
Боль растворяли дивностью
Соприкосновения
В спорах и в близости
Учились терпению
Вышестоящих властей низменность
Классового большинства мнение
Вопрошали искренностью
Сердцебиения
Останки старинной письменности
И нового времени рвение
Соединяли в образах, играх, стихах и пении
Внешними границами стиснутые
К свободе растили стремление
Здесь, на прошлого пустоши
Будущего мечты лелеяли
Слушали, дышали, слышали
Просыпающейся Реки течение.
©We Here
We Here is a cultural movement on the freedom of being oneself, supporting each other's uniqueness and building the shared responsibility for the world we live in.