The article is devoted to the problem of preserving the places of traditional residence of Karelians in modern conditions of significant reduction in the number of Karelians and dispersed residence in the Republic of Karelia (RK). As one of the tools to solve this problem the method of creating the List of Settlements of Traditional Karelian Residence (STKR) in the Republic of Karelia (RK) is considered. The article presents the current regulatory framework of the Russian Federation on the issues of indigenous minorities, including legislative acts and other regulatory documents concerning the development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF), which includes six municipalities of the Republic of Karelia, inhabited by, among others, Karelians. Historical documents that illustrate the connection of specific territories with the Karelian tradition, including the arctic territories are used. The principles underlying the creation of the List of Settlements of Traditional Karelian Residence and examples of using the List to determine the boundaries of economic activities of logging and fish farming enterprises are listed. application of the List is aimed at creating conditions for sustainable development of Karelians in the Republic of Karelia. One of the important factors is the cultural continuity of the way of life. Violation of the principle of gradualness when introducing innovations, the lack of an adaptation period to build a balance with traditions can lead to unpredictable consequences for society.