Indigenous peoples of the North: description, culture and interesting facts. The smallest peoples of the world Which group of peoples is the smallest

General information about the small peoples of Russia

Note 1

Since ancient times, many different peoples and tribes have lived within Russia. Each nation has its own culture, characteristic dialect, and traditions. To date, some of the small peoples have completely disappeared, the remaining ones have become even smaller in number.

A special place among small peoples is occupied by those whom experts in the field of geography and ethnography call the small peoples of the North of Siberia and the Far East.

Some peoples live in their own autonomous territorial entities, for example: Evenki, Khanty-Mansiysk, in the Arkhangelsk region - Nenets, Dolgano-Nenets, Chukotka and Koryak autonomous okrugs.

Most small peoples do not have their own autonomy. Small nations are distinguished not only by their numbers, but it is difficult for them to preserve their identity. And it is preserved only where there are national villages and traditional farming.

Having broken away from their people and dissolved in another, they become Russians, Yakuts, Buryats. The process of ethnic assimilation and, above all, interethnic marriages and “extra-family” assimilation have become widespread in Russia.

Traditional farming is a very important feature for the preservation of small peoples, but this is the main difficulty. Today, in the habitats of small nations, natural systems are being destroyed - reindeer pastures are dying due to oil and gas production, rivers and seas are being polluted, and the demand for reindeer meat and furs is falling.

Large areas of reindeer pastures and hunting grounds have been removed from traditional economic use. In the 1990s, a number of diseases and pathologies developed among representatives of small nations with a violation of the traditional way of life.

Mortality rates among them have increased and exceeded the Russian average. Child mortality increased 1.8 times. Alcoholism and infectious diseases have increased.

In addition, the interests of small nations, large companies and regional authorities are in strong conflict.

Within Russian territory, official statistics identify 65 indigenous peoples. Their total number reaches 50 thousand, including 13 nations with only 100 to 1000 people.

Their habitat:

• 6 peoples live within the European part of Russia;
• 23 peoples - in the North Caucasus;
• in Siberia and the Far East - 36 peoples.

The current state of small nations

Government statistics show that during the 1990s the numbers of indigenous peoples declined. It is unlikely that a reliable picture can be obtained from these data, because the information concerns rural residents of the sample areas.

It must be said that demographic processes occur differently among different peoples of the North, so the demographic situation will be different. The result is that the current count reflects a decline in the number of indigenous people, while the census shows an increase since the previous census.

Not all groups of the indigenous population are increasing in number; there are those in which their numbers are decreasing. Despite this, the change in the number of indigenous peoples according to census data is more favorable compared to the demographic situation in the country as a whole.

These facts indicate that officials, the public, and the media use incomplete and often distorted data during the period between censuses.

The population census conducted in 2002 showed that 26 small peoples of the North with a special status have noticeably decreased in 5 cases: the number of Orochs, Aleuts, Alyutors, Udeges and Kets has decreased.

The decrease for demographic reasons did not occur everywhere; the number of Udege, for example, decreased because they began to count the Taz separately. A similar situation happened with the Orochs - according to previous census data, part of the people were classified as Orochs and called them “Oroks”. The result was a strong reduction in Oroks and an increased number of Oroks.

There are groups with stable numbers because the decrease is insignificant:

• Koryaks;
• Negidalians;
• Ulchi.

The stable category also includes those groups in which there was a slight increase in numbers:

• Evens;
• Dolgans;
• Chukchi;
• Nanais.

The number of such peoples as the Mansi, Yukaghirs, Itelmens, Khanty, Nenets, Entsy and Evenks increased by 20 and even 30%.

Ambiguous ethnicity in Russia, according to experts, is typical for 10% of the population. This applies not only to large urban agglomerations, but also to small-numbered peoples of the North. For example, among the Itelmens - residents of Kamchatka - marriages with Russians are widespread. The Itelmens who switched to the Russian language simultaneously consider themselves to be Itelmens, Russians, and Kamchadals. Some consider themselves to be Koryaks.

The question quite rightly arises: the figure obtained as a result of the census really reflects the number of those who consider themselves Itelmens.

The change in ethnic attribution is also clearly visible among such peoples as the Selkups, Evenks, Yukaghirs, Kets, etc.

Note 2

Such results indicate that the census program does not include dual or multiple ethnicities. Hence, in different years the final calculations differ markedly. The reason for such fluctuations and deviations is caused not only by demographic and assimilation processes, but, to a greater extent, by the inability of the census to reflect the complexity of the ethnic situation.

Life and life of small nations

Representatives of such peoples live in Russia, which not everyone has heard of, and did not even suspect about their existence. There are few of them, but they managed to preserve their culture, their traditions. We managed to preserve the most important thing – faith and way of life.

For example, vodlozers or lake people live in Karelia. To this day, only five villages have survived, with a total population of 550 people. Despite the fact that their ancestors were Moscow and Novgorod settlers in Vodlozerye continue to honor Slavic customs. One of the customs prohibits going into the forest without first appeasing its owner, the goblin. Hunters brought a killed animal as a gift to the forest spirit.

Speaking about small nations, it is necessary to say about Semeis. Their life personifies the life of pre-Petrine times. These are Old Believers who once settled Transbaikalia. The name of the nationality comes from the word “family”. According to the 2010 census, there are 2,500 Old Believers. Their culture is primordial, having changed little since the times of their ancestors.

With the development of Siberia in the 17th century, the Russian Ustyinsky people appeared - settlers from the Cossacks and Pomors. Once they created their own ethnic group, but, despite the difficult living conditions, they managed to partially preserve their culture and language.

The first Russian settlers of the 16th century were called Chaldons by the Siberians, and their descendants also bear this name. The way of life of the Chaldons is similar to the life of the Slavs before the establishment of princely power. The uniqueness of this people lies in the fact that their language, appearance, and culture are not similar to either Slavic or Mongoloid. Like other small peoples, the Chaldons are gradually dying out.

Tundra peasants are considered to be the descendants of the Eastern Pomors. These friendly people, who actively interact, are characterized by a unique culture, faith, and traditions. In 2010, only 8 people considered themselves to be members of this nationality.

Scientists classify the related Khanty and Mansi peoples as endangered peoples. Once they were the greatest hunters, and the fame of their courage reached Moscow. Nowadays, both peoples live in the Khanty-Mansiysk Okrug. Their way of life, culture and faith have long been built on the basis of unity with nature. They had no distinction between animal and human. Nature and animals have always come first. Their beliefs say that the bear gave birth to the first woman, and the Great Bear gave people the first fire. The elk is a symbol of prosperity and strength, and the beaver led them to the sources of the Vasyugan River. Scientists are of great concern about oil developments, which can negatively affect both the beaver population and the way of life of an entire people.

Note 3

The proud inhabitants of the North, the Eskimos, the easternmost people of Russia, settled on the territory of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Their origin remains controversial. They believed in the existence of spirits, and Christianity hardly affected them. Diseases and misfortunes were brought by both dwarf spirits and giant spirits.

Only on the territory of Russia live 65 small peoples, and the number of some of them does not exceed a thousand people. There are hundreds of similar peoples on Earth, and each carefully preserves its customs, language and culture.

Our top ten today includes the smallest peoples in the world.

10. Ginukh people

This small people lives on the territory of Dagestan, and its population is only 443 people as of the end of 2010. For a long time, the Ginukh people were not identified as a separate ethnic group, since the Ginukh language was considered only one of the dialects of the Tsez language widespread in Dagestan.

9. Selkups

Until the 1930s, representatives of this West Siberian people were called Ostyak-Samoyeds. The number of Selkups is just over 4 thousand people. They live mainly in the Tyumen and Tomsk regions, as well as the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug

8. Nganasans

This people lives on the Taimyr Peninsula, and their number is about 800 people. Nganasans are the northernmost people in Eurasia. Until the middle of the 20th century, the people led a nomadic lifestyle, driving herds of deer over vast distances; today the Nganasans live sedentary lives.

7. Orochons

The place of residence of this small ethnic group is China and Mongolia. The population is about 7 thousand people. The history of the people goes back more than a thousand years, and the Orochons are mentioned in many documents dating back to the early Chinese imperial dynasties.

6. Evenks

This indigenous people of Russia lives in Eastern Siberia. These people are the most numerous in our top ten - their numbers are quite sufficient to populate a small town. There are about 35 thousand Evenks in the world.

5. Chum salmon

Kets live in the north of the Krasnoyarsk region. The number of this people is less than 1500 people. Until the middle of the 20th century, representatives of the ethnic group were called Ostyaks, as well as Yeniseians. The Ket language belongs to the group of Yenisei languages.

4. Chulym people

The number of this indigenous people of Russia is 355 people as of 2010. Despite the fact that most of the Chulym people recognize Orthodoxy, the ethnic group carefully preserves some traditions of shamanism. Chulyms live mainly in the Tomsk region. It is interesting that the Chulym language does not have a written language.

3. Basins

The number of this people living in Primorye is only 276 people. The Taz language is a mixture of one of the Chinese dialects with the Nanai language. Now this language is spoken by less than half of those who consider themselves to be Taz.

2. Livs

This extremely small people lives on the territory of Latvia. From time immemorial, the main occupations of the Livs were piracy, fishing and hunting. Today the people have almost completely assimilated. According to official data, there are only 180 Livs left.

1. Pitcairns

This people is the smallest in the world and lives on the small island of Pitcairn in Oceania. The number of Pitcairns is about 60 people. All of them are descendants of the sailors of the British warship Bounty, who landed here in 1790. The Pitcairn language is a mixture of simplified English, Tahitian and maritime vocabulary.

The territory where the indigenous peoples of Russia live runs along 28 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. It stretches from the Far Eastern regions up to

According to the official list from 2006, representatives of 45 indigenous peoples live in the North, Siberia, the Far East and other regions of the Russian Federation, which gives a total population of close to 250 thousand people.

The most numerous people among them are the Nenets, their number reaches 44 thousand. The Enets, who identify themselves under the name Encho, are among the small peoples. Their number does not exceed 200 people. Also included are the Izhorians - 450 people, and the Vod people, whose number, according to the latest data, was less than 100 people. What are the names of the other small peoples of Russia? A list of them can be seen below.

List of small peoples of Russia

• Chukchi.
• Eskimos.
• Chuvans.
• Kamchadal.
• Koryaks.
• Alutorians.
• Aleuts.
• Nivkhi.
• Oroks.
• Orochi.
• Udege people.
• Negidalians.
• Ulchi.
• Evenks.
• Evens.
• Yukaghirs.
• Dolgans.
• Abazins.
• Chum salmon.
• Veps.
• Izhorians.
• Nenets.
• Igelmens.
• Sami.
• Chulym people.
• Shors.
• Khanty.
• Besermyane.
• Koreki.
• Muncie.
• Sepkupa.
• Soyots.
• Basins.
• Teleuts.
• Tofalars.
• Tuvinians-Todzha.
• Kumandins.
• Nanai people.
• Nagaibaki.
• Naganasans.
• Tubalars.
• Nganasans.
• Chelkans.
• Karelians.
• Vod.

Traditional worldview of the indigenous peoples of the North

Traditionally, the Evens, like other indigenous peoples of Russia, deify the sky with all the main luminaries, as well as the main elements of the surrounding flora and fauna - mountain ranges, rivers, taiga forests and the various animals that live in them. So, for example, the Sun in the traditional consciousness of the Evens is represented by a kind person, wholly interested in the interests and protection of the local population. The Sun God can be induced to cooperate through sacrifices as well as faith and prayer. The deity is capable of fulfilling the will of believers, giving them healthy and strong offspring, increasing herds of deer, bringing good luck to hunters and favoring the fish catch.

Izhora

Izhora is the self-name of the Finno-Ugric people, which in the past, along with the small Vod people, made up the main population of the Izhora land. The name of this people has its roots in the Ingermanland province. In addition, some Izhorians call themselves “karyalaysht” in the plural. This is consistent with the fact that representatives of the Vod people refer to the Izhorians as “Karelians.”

In 1897, the number of this people reached 14,000 people, but today their number is close to 400. In the 1920s, they even developed their own written language, but it also had to sink into oblivion by the end of the 1930s.

The Izhorians received their first mention as “Ingres” back in 1223. In the 15th century, this people was part of the Russian state. He gradually underwent assimilation with the rest of the population due to the Orthodox religion. In the 17th century, part of the lands of the Neva (Ingermanland) became a Swedish province, and the Izhorians were assimilated with the Finns, and in 1943 the population was taken by German troops to Finland. Subsequently, until the mid-1950s, the process of resettlement of Izhorians in their former places underwent some restrictions on the part of the authorities.

The economy of the Izhorians is similar to the Russian one and is based on agriculture: growing vegetable and grain crops, followed by harvesting, drying and threshing with flails and upholstery on a bench, as well as animal husbandry and specific fishing, including stages of winter fishing, to which the Izhorians went as usually the entire population, spending nights in plank booths.

The Izhorians lived in villages, usually in small families. Despite Orthodoxy, the people had their own authentic funeral rituals. Burials took place in holy places-groves. Along with the deceased, a supply of food and woolen reins, as well as a knife, were placed in the coffin.

The runic heritage of Izhora in the form of a large number of epic works is of enormous cultural value. Thus, the Finnish folklorist Elias Lennorot used Izhora runes when composing the text of the Kalevala.

Vod

The smallest people in Russia today number only 82 people and live mainly in the southwestern part of the Leningrad region. Vod belongs to the Finno-Ugric peoples. There are three languages ​​spoken by the population: Vodian, Izhorian and Russian. The language closest to the Vodian dialect is Estonian. The main and traditional occupation of this small people was agriculture, as well as forestry, fishing and small handicrafts. The products obtained on the farm were usually sold to large centers such as St. Petersburg.

The smallest people in Russia were unable to preserve their original language. This was prevented not only by the arrival of Orthodoxy (sermons were conducted in Russian), but also by the irregularity of the language, the lack of schools in which the written Vodian language would be taught, the small number of people and many mixed marriages. Thus, the Vod language was practically lost, and the culture of the Vod people succumbed to Russification.

Since ancient times, the vast territories of the Russian Federation have been inhabited by many peoples, tribes and settlements. Each of them had its own individual culture, characteristic dialect and local traditions. Today, some of them have completely disappeared, while others remain, but in smaller numbers. What are the smallest peoples of Russia? What is their history, culture and modern life? This will be discussed further.

Archintsy - small in number, but unique

In the Charodinsky district, in the place where the Khatar River flows, which is located on the territory of Dagestan, a settlement has been established, the inhabitants of which are called Archintsy. Some of their neighbors call them archie for short. During the Soviet Union, their number reached almost 500 people. These are the small peoples of Russia. Today, this small settlement has no intention of disappearing from the face of the Earth, and already numbers about 1,200 people.

Daily life of Archa residents

The weather conditions in the habitat of the Archin people can be called unfavorable, as they are characterized by very cold and long winters and short summers. Despite such a harsh climate, the inhabitants of this area (small peoples of Russia) have fairly good and productive pastures, on which livestock regularly grazed.

A cross between Christianity and paganism

A peculiarity of this people is their cultural similarity with their neighbors - the Avars. Although this area has not been thoroughly studied, from an archaeological point of view, it is safe to say that this territory was developed in the early Bronze Age. Judging by the latest finds, it can be assumed that the tribe was under the influence of paganism for quite a long time and only relatively recently began to adopt Christian traditions as the main religion. As a result, we can say that the lion's share of rituals and other religious aspects were mixed with each other, and the result was Christianity with an admixture of paganism. The indigenous peoples of Russia have come to terms with this state of affairs.

National clothes and food

Not much can be said about the traditional clothing of the tribe. It consisted mainly of rawhide and sheep skins. Such natural materials protected the Archa people quite well during the cold season, which, as we know, was quite long. The tribe's diet is predominantly meat. Raw, dried, raw smoked - all these and many other types of meat were actively used in the preparation of traditional dishes.
It is noteworthy that almost none of them could be done without adding old lamb fat. Both first and second courses were generously seasoned with it and some other spices. In general, we can say with confidence that the Archin people are a pleasant and hospitable, although not numerous, people.

Hospitality and morality

They revere ancient traditions and do not forget their origins. When a guest comes to the house, the owner does not sit down until the newcomer does so. Also, among the Archin people, the concept of hospitality was not limited to a hearty lunch. To receive a guest in the full sense of the word meant to provide him with a roof over his head and complete safety within his home. From the above we can safely conclude that this tribe had and has high moral standards.

Nogai or Karagash

Karagashi (Nogais) are a small ethnic group that settled and lives in the territory of the modern Astrakhan region. In 2008, there were about 8 thousand people, but there are suggestions that today their number has increased significantly. It is on the territory of the Krasnoyarsk region that most of the villages where these small peoples of Russia live today are located.

Most small or nomadic tribes are very similar in their type of activity - cattle breeding and vegetable growing. If there is a lake or river in the area, local residents do not miss the opportunity to go fishing. Women in such tribes are very economical and almost always do some kind of intricate needlework.
One of the most famous nomadic tribes are the Astrakhan Tatars. This is truly the titular nationality of the Republic of Tatarstan, which today is part of the Russian Federation. Compared to other regions of Russia, Tatarstan is relatively populous. According to some data recorded in 2002, there are about 8 million Tatars worldwide. The Astrakhan Tatars are one of their, so to speak, varieties. They can rather be called an ethnoterritorial group. Their culture and traditions are not far removed from ordinary Tatar customs, and are only slightly intertwined with Russian rituals. These are the costs of the fact that the smallest people in Russia live on the territory of a not entirely native state.

Udege people. Historically, Primorsk became the habitat of this small tribe. This is one of the few groups inhabiting Russia that does not have its own written language.
Their language is also divided into many dialects and does not have one officially approved form. Their traditional activities include hunting. This, perhaps, is exactly what the male half of the tribe should master perfectly. The small peoples of the north of Russia live in settlements where civilization is very poorly developed, so their hands, their skills and abilities are practically the only way to survive in this world. And they are quite successful at it.

The small peoples of Russia have their own traditional religion

The religious themes of the tribe are very close. It seems that the closer a person lives to nature, the more religious he becomes. And this is true, because alone with the sky, grass and trees, it seems that God himself is talking to you. The Udege people believe in many different otherworldly beings, including spirits and various supernatural forces.

A few Ulchi and their view of nomadic life

Ulchi. Translated, it means “people of the earth”, which, in fact, is so, only the people are very small, one might even say - the smallest people in Russia. Today the Ulchi inhabit the Khabarovsk Territory and number approximately 732 people. The tribe is historically intertwined with the Nanai ethnic group. Traditionally, both in the past and in the present, the indigenous peoples of the north of Russia are engaged in fishing and seasonal hunting of elk or deer. If we talk about spiritual and religious life, then we can understand that it is in this area that one can meet the most real ritual shamans in the Ulchi tribe.

They worship spirits and try in every possible way to appease them with their behavior. Be that as it may, it is pleasant that such tribes with their ancient customs, rituals and traditions have reached even our civilized modernity. This makes it possible to experience their primitive flavor and uniqueness. There is a lot to learn from them about nature and human relationships.

Other small peoples of Russia (approximate list):

• yugi (yugen);
• Urum Greeks (Urum);
• Mennonites (German Mennonites);
• kereks;
• Bagulals (Bagvalians);
• Circassians;
• Kaitag people.

For many centuries, the peoples of Siberia lived in small settlements. Each individual settlement had its own clan. The inhabitants of Siberia were friends with each other, ran a joint household, were often relatives to each other and led an active lifestyle. But due to the vast territory of the Siberian region, these villages were far from each other. So, for example, the inhabitants of one village already led their own way of life and spoke a language incomprehensible to their neighbors. Over time, some settlements disappeared, while others became larger and actively developed.

History of population in Siberia.

The Samoyed tribes are considered to be the first indigenous inhabitants of Siberia. They inhabited the northern part. Their main occupations include reindeer herding and fishing. To the south lived the Mansi tribes, who lived by hunting. Their main trade was the extraction of furs, with which they paid for their future wives and bought goods necessary for life.

The upper reaches of the Ob were inhabited by Turkic tribes. Their main occupation was nomadic cattle breeding and blacksmithing. To the west of Baikal lived the Buryats, who became famous for their iron-making craft.

The largest territory from the Yenisei to the Sea of ​​Okhotsk was inhabited by Tungus tribes. Among them were many hunters, fishermen, reindeer herders, some were engaged in crafts.

Along the shore of the Chukchi Sea, the Eskimos (about 4 thousand people) settled down. Compared to other peoples of the time, the Eskimos had the slowest social development. The tool was made of stone or wood. The main economic activities include gathering and hunting.

The main way of survival of the first settlers of the Siberian region was hunting, reindeer herding and extraction of furs, which was the currency of that time.

By the end of the 17th century, the most developed peoples of Siberia were the Buryats and Yakuts. The Tatars were the only people who, before the arrival of the Russians, managed to organize state power.

The largest peoples before Russian colonization include the following peoples: Itelmens (indigenous inhabitants of Kamchatka), Yukagirs (inhabited the main territory of the tundra), Nivkhs (inhabitants of Sakhalin), Tuvinians (indigenous population of the Republic of Tuva), Siberian Tatars (located in the territory of Southern Siberia from Ural to Yenisei) and Selkups (residents of Western Siberia).

Indigenous peoples of Siberia in the modern world.

According to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, every people of Russia received the right to national self-determination and identification. Since the collapse of the USSR, Russia has officially turned into a multinational state and the preservation of the culture of small and endangered nationalities has become one of the state priorities. The Siberian indigenous peoples were not left out here either: some of them received the right to self-government in autonomous okrugs, while others formed their own republics as part of the new Russia. Very small and endangered nationalities enjoy full support from the state, and the efforts of many people are aimed at preserving their culture and traditions.

As part of this review, we will give a brief description of each Siberian people whose population is more than or approaching 7 thousand people. Smaller peoples are difficult to characterize, so we will limit ourselves to their name and number. So, let's begin.

1. Yakuts- the most numerous of the Siberian peoples. According to the latest data, the number of Yakuts is 478,100 people. In modern Russia, the Yakuts are one of the few nationalities that have their own republic, and its area is comparable to the area of ​​the average European state. The Republic of Yakutia (Sakha) is geographically located in the Far Eastern Federal District, but the Yakut ethnic group has always been considered an indigenous Siberian people. The Yakuts have an interesting culture and traditions. This is one of the few peoples of Siberia that has its own epic.
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3. Buryats- this is another Siberian people with their own republic. The capital of Buryatia is the city of Ulan-Ude, located east of Lake Baikal. The number of Buryats is 461,389 people. Buryat cuisine is widely known in Siberia and is rightfully considered one of the best among ethnic cuisines. The history of this people, its legends and traditions is quite interesting. By the way, the Republic of Buryatia is one of the main centers of Buddhism in Russia.
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5. Tuvans. According to the latest census, 263,934 identified themselves as representatives of the Tuvan people. The Republic of Tyva is one of the four ethnic republics of the Siberian Federal District. Its capital is the city of Kyzyl with a population of 110 thousand people. The total population of the republic is approaching 300 thousand. Buddhism also flourishes here, and the Tuvan traditions also speak of shamanism.
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7. Khakassians- one of the indigenous peoples of Siberia numbering 72,959 people. Today they have their own republic within the Siberian Federal District and with its capital in the city of Abakan. This ancient people have long lived in the lands west of the Great Lake (Baikal). It was never numerous, but that did not prevent it from carrying its identity, culture and traditions through the centuries.
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9. Altaians. Their place of residence is quite compact - the Altai mountain system. Today Altaians live in two constituent entities of the Russian Federation - the Altai Republic and the Altai Territory. The number of the Altai ethnic group is about 71 thousand people, which allows us to speak of them as a fairly large people. Religion - shamanism and Buddhism. The Altaians have their own epic and a clearly defined national identity, which does not allow them to be confused with other Siberian peoples. This mountain people has a centuries-old history and interesting legends.
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11. Nenets- one of the small Siberian peoples living compactly in the area of ​​the Kola Peninsula. Its population of 44,640 people allows it to be classified as a small nation whose traditions and culture are protected by the state. The Nenets are nomadic reindeer herders. They belong to the so-called Samoyed folk group. Over the years of the 20th century, the number of Nenets approximately doubled, which indicates the effectiveness of state policy in the field of preserving the small peoples of the North. The Nenets have their own language and oral epic.
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13. Evenks- people predominantly living on the territory of the Republic of Sakha. The number of this people in Russia is 38,396 people, some of whom live in the regions adjacent to Yakutia. It is worth saying that this is approximately half of the total number of the ethnic group - approximately the same number of Evenks live in China and Mongolia. The Evenks are a people of the Manchu group who do not have their own language and epic. Tungusic is considered the native language of the Evenks. Evenks are born hunters and trackers.
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15. Khanty- the indigenous people of Siberia, belonging to the Ugric group. The majority of the Khanty live on the territory of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug, which is part of the Ural Federal District of Russia. The total number of Khanty is 30,943 people. About 35% of the Khanty live in the Siberian Federal District, with the lion's share of them in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The traditional occupations of the Khanty are fishing, hunting and reindeer herding. The religion of their ancestors is shamanism, but recently more and more Khanty people consider themselves Orthodox Christians.
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17. Evens- people related to the Evenks. According to one version, they represent an Evenki group that was cut off from the main halo of residence by the Yakuts moving south. A long time away from the main ethnic group made the Evens a separate people. Today their number is 21,830 people. Language - Tungusic. Places of residence: Kamchatka, Magadan region, Republic of Sakha.
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19. Chukchi- nomadic Siberian people who are mainly engaged in reindeer herding and live on the territory of the Chukotka Peninsula. Their number is about 16 thousand people. The Chukchi belong to the Mongoloid race and, according to many anthropologists, are the indigenous aborigines of the Far North. The main religion is animism. Indigenous industries are hunting and reindeer herding.
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21. Shors- a Turkic-speaking people living in the southeastern part of Western Siberia, mainly in the south of the Kemerovo region (in Tashtagol, Novokuznetsk, Mezhdurechensky, Myskovsky, Osinnikovsky and other regions). Their number is about 13 thousand people. The main religion is shamanism. The Shor epic is of scientific interest primarily for its originality and antiquity. The history of the people dates back to the 6th century. Today, the traditions of the Shors have been preserved only in Sheregesh, since most of the ethnic group moved to the cities and were largely assimilated.
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23. Muncie. This people has been known to Russians since the beginning of the founding of Siberia. Ivan the Terrible also sent an army against the Mansi, which suggests that they were quite numerous and strong. The self-name of this people is Voguls. They have their own language, a fairly developed epic. Today, their place of residence is the territory of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. According to the latest census, 12,269 people identified themselves as belonging to the Mansi ethnic group.
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25. Nanai people- a small people living along the banks of the Amur River in the Russian Far East. Belonging to the Baikal ethnotype, the Nanais are rightfully considered one of the most ancient indigenous peoples of Siberia and the Far East. Today the number of Nanais in Russia is 12,160 people. The Nanais have their own language, rooted in Tungusic. Writing exists only among the Russian Nanais and is based on the Cyrillic alphabet.
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27. Koryaks- indigenous people of the Kamchatka Territory. There are coastal and tundra Koryaks. The Koryaks are mainly reindeer herders and fishermen. The religion of this ethnic group is shamanism. Number of people: 8,743 people.
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29. Dolgans- a people living in the Dolgan-Nenets municipal region of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Number of employees: 7,885 people.
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31. Siberian Tatars- perhaps the most famous, but today not numerous Siberian people. According to the latest census, 6,779 people self-identified as Siberian Tatars. However, scientists say that in fact their number is much larger - according to some estimates, up to 100,000 people.
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33. Soyots- an indigenous people of Siberia, a descendant of the Sayan Samoyeds. Lives compactly on the territory of modern Buryatia. The number of Soyots is 5,579 people.
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35. Nivkhi- indigenous people of Sakhalin Island. Now they live on the continental part at the mouth of the Amur River. As of 2010, the number of Nivkhs is 5,162 people.
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37. Selkups live in the northern parts of the Tyumen and Tomsk regions and in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The number of this ethnic group is about 4 thousand people.
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39. Itelmens- This is another indigenous people of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Today, almost all representatives of the ethnic group live in the west of Kamchatka and the Magadan Region. The number of Itelmens is 3,180 people.
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41. Teleuts- Turkic-speaking small Siberian people living in the south of the Kemerovo Region. The ethnos is very closely related to the Altaians. Its population is approaching 2 and a half thousand.
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43. Among other small peoples of Siberia, such ethnic groups are often distinguished as “Kets”, “Chuvans”, “Nganasans”, “Tofalgars”, “Orochs”, “Negidals”, “Aleuts”, “Chulyms”, “Oroks”, “Tazis”, “Enets”, “Alutors” and “Kereks”. It is worth saying that the number of each of them is less than 1 thousand people, so their culture and traditions have practically not been preserved.