The peoples of the North and the Far East are called small. Not only the demography of the ethnos is embedded in this term, but also its culture - traditions, customs, everyday life, etc.
The legislation clarified the concept of small numbers. These are peoples with a population of less than 50 thousand people. Such a manipulation made it possible to “throw out” Karelians, Komi, and Yakuts from the list of northern peoples.
Who stayed
What are the small nations of the North of Russia known today? These are Yukagirs, Enets, Tuvans-Tojins, Kereks, Orochi, Kets, Koryaks, Chukchi, Aleuts, Eskimos, Tubalars, Nenets, Teleuts, Mansi, Evens, Events, Shors, Evenks, Nanai, Nganasans, Aleutorets, Vepsians, Chulym , Chuvans, Soyts, Dolgans, Itelmens, Kamchadals, Tofalars, Umandans, Khanty, Chulkans, Negidals, Nivkhs, Ultas, Sami, Selkups, Telengits, Ulchi, Udege.
Indigenous peoples of the North and their language
All of them belong to the following language groups:
- Sami, Khanty and Mansi - to the Finno-Ugric;
- Nenets, Selkups, Nganasans, Enets - to Samoyed;
- Dolgans - to the Turkic;
- Evenks, Evens, Negidals, terms, Orochi, Nanai, Udege and Ulchi - to the Tungus-Manchu;
- Chukchi, Koryak, Itelmen speak the languages of the Chukchi-Kamchatka family;
- Eskimos and Aleuts - Eskimo-Aleut.
There are also isolated languages. They do not belong to any group.
Many languages are already forgotten in colloquial speech and are used only in the everyday life of the old generation. Mostly speak Russian.
Since the 90s, they are trying to restore the lessons of their native language in schools. This is difficult because it is not well known to anyone, it is difficult to find teachers. When studying, children perceive their native language as a foreign language, because they rarely hear it.
The peoples of the far North of Russia: features of appearance
The appearance of the indigenous peoples of the North and the Far East is a monolik in contrast to their language. By anthropological properties, most can be attributed to the Mongoloid race. Small stature, dense physique, fair skin, black straight hair, dark eyes with a narrow cut, small nose - these are the signs that point to this. An example is the Yakuts, the photos of which are given below.
During the development of the north of Siberia in the 20th century by the Russians, some peoples as a result of mixed marriages acquired a Caucasian shape. Eyes became brighter, their cut was wider, brown hair began to meet more often. A traditional lifestyle is also acceptable for them. They belong to their indigenous nation, but their names are Russian. The peoples of the North of Russia are trying to stick nominally to their nation for a number of reasons.
Firstly, to preserve the privileges that give the right to free fishing and hunting, as well as various subsidies and allowances from the state.
Secondly, to maintain numbers.
Religion
Previously, 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, churches and priests were almost gone. Only a small part of the people has kept icons and observes Christian rites. The bulk adheres to traditional shamanism.
The life of the peoples of the North
The land of the North and the Far East is unsuitable for agriculture. The villages are mainly located off the coast of bays, lakes and rivers, because only sea and river trade routes work for them. The time by which goods can be delivered to villages through rivers is very limited. Rivers freeze quickly. Many become captives of nature for long months. It is also difficult to get to them in the villages of anyone from the mainland. At this time, to get coal, gasoline, as well as the necessary goods can only be done using 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, fishers, 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. Radio, walkie-talkies, gasoline lamps, boat engines and much more.
Small peoples of the North of Russia are mainly engaged in reindeer husbandry. From this craft they get hides, milk, meat. They sell most of it, but there is enough for themselves. Deer are also used as vehicles. This is the only means of transportation between villages that are not separated by rivers.
Kitchen
Raw food prevails. Traditional dishes:
- Kanyga (semi-digested contents of the deer's stomach).
- Deer antlers (growing horns).
- Kopalhen (fermented meat under pressure).
- Kiwiak (carcasses of birds decomposed by bacteria that are stored in the skin of a seal for up to two years).
- Bone marrow of a deer, etc.
Work and craft
Some peoples of the North have developed whaling. But only Chukchi, Eskimos are engaged in it. A very popular form of income is fur farms. Arctic foxes and minks are bred on them. Their products are used in sewing workshops. They make both national and European clothes.
In the villages there are mechanics, sellers, minders, nurses. But most reindeer herders, fishers, hunters. Families who do this all year round live in the taiga, on the banks of rivers and lakes. They occasionally drop into villages to buy various products, essential goods or send mail.
Hunting is a year-round industry. The peoples of the far north of Russia are skiing in the winter. They take with them small sledges for equipment, mainly dogs carry them. They hunt more often alone, rarely in company.
Small peoples housing
These are mainly log houses. Nomads move with the plague. It looks like a tall conical-shaped tent, the base of which is strengthened by multiple poles. Covered with plague deer skins sewn together. Such dwellings are transported on a sleigh with deer. Women make a plague, as a rule. They have beds, bedding, chests. In the center of the plague is a stove; some nomads can see a fire, but this is rare. Some hunters and reindeer herders live in beams. These are rack houses, also covered in skins. They are similar in size to a construction trailer. Inside the table, bunk bed, stove. Such a house is transported on a sleigh.
Yaranga is a more complex wooden house. Inside there are two rooms. The kitchen is not heated. But the bedroom is warm.
Only the indigenous peoples of the North to this day can build such dwellings. Modern youth is no longer trained in such a craft, since it mainly seeks to leave for cities. Few people live according to the laws of their ancestors.
Why do the peoples of the North disappear
Small nations are distinguished not only by their low numbers, but also by their everyday life. The peoples of the European North of Russia retain their existence only in their villages. It takes a man to leave and over time he moves to another culture. Few immigrants come to the lands of the Northern peoples. And the children, growing up, almost everyone leaves.
The peoples of the North of Russia are mainly local (autochthonous) ethnic groups from the West (Karelians, Vepsians) to the Far East (Yakuts, Chukchi, 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 on the mainland.
In order for such peoples to survive, it is necessary to help their traditional economy. Deer pastures quickly disappear due to gas and oil production. Farms are losing profitability. The reason is expensive food and the impossibility of grazing. Water pollution affects fishing, which is becoming less active. Small peoples of the North of Russia disappear very rapidly, their total number is 0.1% of the country's population.