Apr 27, 2006 — Arts activist and organizer Naj Wikoff, from Keene Valley, returned this week from a year in Russia. He lived near Lake Baikal, helping hospitals and other community groups develop arts programs. Wikoff says he used lessons learned here in the North Country to inspire projects and partnerships in rural Russia.  Go to full article

Feb 06, 2006 — Naj Wikoff from Keene Valley is spending a year in Ulan Udea, in Russia's Lake Baikal region, developing arts programs at a government hospital. He's has been keeping an on-line journal on NCPR's website and sending occasional audio diaries. This week, Naj describes a village's effort to rebuild a sacred Buddhist shrine, called a stupa, in a small village on the edge of Siberia. Buddhists were persecuted during by the communist regime, especially during the Stalin era in the 1950s. But over the last decade, the religion has experienced a renaissance. The new stupa will serve as a place of worship and pilgrimage to honor the 12th reincarnation of the Khambo Lama.  Go to full article

Dec 26, 2005 — Naj Wikoff, from Keene Valley, is spending eight months in Ulan Ade, in the Lake Baikal region of eastern Russia. Since August, Naj has been keeping a web-diary of his journey here at NCPR.org. He's described his travels and his work as a Fulbright scholar, a teacher and artist at the East Siberian Academy of Culture. This morning, Naj sends this audio diary of his journey across Russia and his first encounter with Lake Baikal and its people.

Naj's audio diary was produced by Brian Mann with web production by Dale Hobson.  Go to full article