Successfully Concluded Camp: 'Katun – Guardian of the Past, Guarantor of the Future'"
From July 10 to July 14, 2026, the Margita plateau on Sinjajevina served as the epicenter of a gathering for nature lovers, activists, local residents, and international experts. The civic initiative "Save Sinjajevina," supported by the International Land Coalition (ILC), successfully organized its seventh consecutive camp, themed "Katun: Guardian of the Past, Guarantee of the Future" this year.
With a daily attendance of up to eighty participants in the camp itself, a large number of children and families, and over 300 visitors at the central events, this seventh traditional camp stood out as one of the largest and most content-rich to date.
What made this year’s gathering particularly special was its exceptional international visibility and strong support from all over the world. The camp hosted fifteen representatives from the global ICCA Consortium (Consortium for Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas), who came to offer direct support to the local community in their fight to protect Sinjajevina. The gathering at the camp was richer than ever, assembling guests from as many as twelve countries—Spain, Italy, France, Russia, Belarus, Egypt, the USA, Switzerland, Croatia, Serbia, Germany, and Slovenia. Their presence and active involvement confirmed that the fight for Sinjajevina has outgrown local boundaries and become a globally recognized example of environmental and traditional resistance.
The first day of the camp was spent welcoming participants, setting up the tent campsite, and warmly introducing the organization's work and vision around a campfire with a traditional shepherd's snack. A dynamic workshop program followed as early as the second day. The educational and artistic workshop "Archetype of Woman – A Fairy Tale of Female Initiation through Prose and Fine Art" was led by Alena Molchanova and Sviatlana Vetrana, participants returning to Sinjajevina for the third consecutive year. Immediately after, an art colony titled "Sinjajevina from the Campers' Perspective" was held, bringing the most joy to the youngest attendees, though older participants did not hesitate to unleash their imagination and transfer their experience of the mountain onto canvas.
The program continued with a field tour of the Okrugljak katun, where participants visited the sites of Bunarine, Borova Glava, and Milošev Do, refreshing themselves at the local springs. The cultural highlight of that day took place in the evening near the Ružica Church, where the Film Centre of Montenegro organized a screening of the documentary movie "The Mountain" (Planina). This event gathered over 300 open-air visitors, creating an unforgettable atmosphere of togetherness and reverence for the mountain landscape.
Sunday, July 12, was reserved for the traditional katun assembly (zbor) on the occasion of St. Peter's Day (Petrovdan). Camp participants had the opportunity to engage in direct conversations with local livestock farmers and residents to gain first-hand insight into the authentic way of life in the katuns. Since international solidarity is an essential segment of this fight, the presentation "How a Local Community Became Globally Visible" introduced attendees to the initiative's international work and the global support it enjoys. Workshops dedicated to Slavic mythology, along with a guided walk through Sinjajevina’s rich flora to learn about its medicinal plants, also drew significant interest throughout the day.
On the fourth day of the camp, July 13, participants headed toward the Savine Vode site, where they had the chance to learn and try the traditional method of drinking water directly from the spring—a technique requiring exceptional agility and physical fitness. Following this, a group of fitter campers continued the climb up the impressive Jablanov Vrh (2,203 meters above sea level) under the experienced guidance of Persida Jovanović and Duško Vuković, where they were rewarded with a majestic view of the entire Sinjajevina plateau.
Thanks to the financial and logistical support of the ILC partner network, as well as the dedicated effort of the volunteers, the seventh camp ran impeccably and with an extremely high level of satisfaction among all present. Representatives of the ICCA Consortium confirmed that they will continue to provide full support in the future steps of the fight. This year's camp successfully strengthened the bond between local livestock farmers and civic activists, educated new generations, and once again sent a clear message from Sinjajevina about the importance of preserving nature, culture, and tradition for generations to come.
Files section
- Article has no files.
