The peoples of the North and the Far East are called small. This term includes not only the demography of an ethnic group, but also its culture - traditions, customs, way of life, etc.
The concept of small numbers has been clarified in the legislation. These are peoples with a population of less than 50 thousand people. Such manipulation made it possible to “throw out” the Karelians, Komi, and Yakuts from the list of northern peoples.
Who's left
What are the small peoples of the North of Russia known today? These are Yukagirs, Enets, Tuvans-Todzhins, Kereks, Orochi, Kets, Koryaks, Chukchis, Aleuts, Eskimos, Tubalars, Nenets, Teleuts, Mansi, Evens, Evens, Shors, Evenks, Nanais, Nganasans, Alutors, Veps, Chulyms, Tazis, Chuvans, Soits, Dolgans, Itelmens, Kamchadals, Tofalars, Umandins, Khanty, Chulkans, Negidals, Nivkhs, Ulta, Saami, Selkups, Telengits, Ulchi, Udeges.
Indigenous peoples of the North and their language
They all belong to the following language groups:
- Saami, Khanty and Mansi - to the Finno-Ugric;
- Nenets, Selkups, Nganasans, Enets - to Samoyed;
- dolgans - to Turkic;
- Evenki, Evens, Negidals, terms, Orochi, Nanai, Udege and Ulchi - to the Tungus-Manchurian;
- Chukchi, Koryaks, Itelmens speak the languages of the Chukchi-Kamchatka family;
- Eskimos and Aleuts - Eskimo-Aleutian.
There are also isolated languages. They are not part of any group.
Many languages have already been forgotten in colloquial speech and are used only in everyday life of the old generation. They mostly speak Russian.
Since the 90s, they have been trying to restore the lessons of their native language in schools. This is difficult, because he is not well known, it is difficult to find teachers. When learning, children perceive their native language as a foreign language, because they rarely hear it.
Peoples of the Far North of Russia: features of appearance
The appearance of the indigenous peoples of the North and the Far East is monophonic, unlike their language. According to anthropological properties, the majority can be attributed to the Mongoloid race. Small stature, heavy build, light skin, black straight hair, dark eyes with a narrow slit, a small nose - these signs indicate this. An example is the Yakuts, whose photos are given below.
During the development of the north of Siberia in the 20th century by the Russians, as a result of mixed marriages, some peoples acquired a Caucasoid outline of faces. The eyes became lighter, their incision was wider, blond hair began to appear more and more often. For them, the traditional way of life is also acceptable. They belong to their native nation, but the namestheir surnames are Russian. The peoples of the North of Russia try to stick nominally to their nation for a number of reasons.
Firstly, to maintain the benefits that give the right to free fishing and hunting, as well as various subsidies and benefits from the state.
Second, to preserve the population.
Religion
Earlier, the indigenous peoples of the North were mainly adherents of shamanism. Only at the beginning of the 19th century. they converted to Orthodoxy. During the Soviet Union, they had almost no churches and priests left. Only a small part of the people kept icons and observes Christian rites. The bulk adheres to traditional shamanism.
Life of the peoples of the North
The land of the North and the Far East is of little use for agriculture. The villages are mainly located along the coasts of bays, lakes and rivers, since only sea and river trade routes work for them. The time at which goods can be delivered to the villages across the rivers is very limited. Rivers freeze quickly. Many become prisoners of nature for many months. It is also difficult for anyone from the mainland to get to them in the villages. At this time, you can get coal, gasoline, as well as the necessary goods only with the help of helicopters, but not everyone can afford it.
The peoples of the North of Russia observe and honor centuries-old traditions and customs. These are mainly hunters, fishermen, reindeer herders. Despite the fact that they live according to the examples and teachings of their ancestors, in their everyday life there are things from modern life. Radios, walkie-talkies, gasoline lamps, boat engines and much moreother.
Small peoples of the North of Russia are mainly engaged in reindeer herding. From this trade they get skins, milk, meat. They sell most of it, but they still have enough for themselves. Reindeer are also used as transport. This is the only means of transportation between villages that are not separated by rivers.
Kitchen
The raw food diet prevails. Traditional dishes:
- Kanyga (semi-digested stomach contents of a deer).
- Deer antlers (growing horns).
- Kopalchen (pressed fermented meat).
- Kiviak (Bacteria-decomposed carcasses of birds stored in seal skins for up to two years).
- Deer bone marrow, etc.
Work and fishing
Whaling is developed among some peoples of the North. But only Chukchi, Eskimos are engaged in it. A very popular form of income is fur farms. They breed arctic foxes, minks. Their products are used in tailoring workshops. They are used to make both national and European clothes.
There are mechanics, sellers, minders, nurses in the villages. But the majority of reindeer herders, fishermen, hunters. Families who do this all year round live in the taiga, on the banks of rivers and lakes. They occasionally visit villages to buy various products, essential goods or send mail.
Hunting is a year-round fishery. The peoples of the Far North of Russia hunt on skis in winter. They take small sledges with them for equipment, mostly dogs carry them. Most often they hunt alone, rarely - incompany.
Small nations housing
Mostly log houses. Nomads move with plagues. It looks like a tall conical tent, the base of which is reinforced with multiple poles. Covered with chum deer skins sewn together. Such dwellings are transported on sledges with deer. Chum is put up, as a rule, by women. They have beds, bedding, chests. In the center of the plague there is a stove, some nomads can see a fire, but this is rare. Some hunters and reindeer herders live in the ravines. These are rack houses, also covered with skins. They are similar in size to a construction trailer. Inside there is a table, a bunk bed, an oven. Such a house is transported on a sleigh.
Yaranga is a more elaborate wooden house. There are two rooms inside. The kitchen is not heated. But the bedroom is warm.
Only indigenous peoples of the North still know how to build such dwellings. Modern youth is no longer trained in such a trade, as they mainly seek to leave for the cities. Few remain to live according to the laws of their ancestors.
Why the peoples of the North are disappearing
Small nations differ not only in their low numbers, but also in their way of life. The peoples of the European North of Russia retain their existence only in their villages. Once a person leaves, and over time, he moves to another culture. Few settlers come to the lands of the Northern peoples. And children, growing up, almost all leave.
The peoples of the North of Russia are mainly local (autochthonous) ethnic groups fromWest (Karelians, Vepsians) to the Far East (Yakuts, Chukchis, Aleuts, etc.). Their population in their native places is not growing, despite the high birth rate. The reason is that almost all children grow up and leave the northern latitudes for the mainland.
In order for such peoples to survive, it is necessary to help their traditional economy. Reindeer pastures are rapidly disappearing due to oil and gas extraction. Farms lose profitability. The reason is expensive food and the impossibility of grazing. Water pollution affects fisheries, which become less active. The small peoples of the North of Russia are disappearing very rapidly, their total number is 0.1% of the country's population.
