Anatolii Solodiakov explains and demonstrates how to use a fireboard

“The Koryaks, the Nymylans, and the Chavchuven – subgroups of the Koryak – and surely other northern peoples as well, used to make fire in this way, using what we call a kalak – a fireboard. Such a board often features the shape of a carved figure and is considered the 'guardian of fire'. When I was a child, I still saw these objects here and there. But this particular figure caught my attention in a book – it likely came from abroad. The book contained many photographs of the Koryak, including their tools and ritual objects. I would look at those pictures again and again. Based on those photos, I carved this figure. You could say it’s a symbol of life – because for us, the fire created with it meant life.

Now I will try to light a fire. This small stick is made from stone birch – a very hard wood – while the base piece is made from something softer. Already, you can smell it – and now, you see smoke. At this point, you would take some dry reindeer moss, dry leaves, or a few fine hairs from a reindeer’s neck, which catch fire quickly. I’m sure that in the past, their stick was larger. That allowed more force and friction to be applied – and the fire would ignite faster.”

Recorded by Erich Kasten. Palana, 2002.