The indigenous peoples of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and their traditions

Russia is an amazing country! Where else on such a huge territory does so many different nationalities live, each of which has its own culture, traditions, religion and views on life? A particularly interesting demographic situation is in the Siberian Federal District of the Russian Federation. It is in these territories that the peoples of the Krasnoyarsk Territory live, among which there are not only Russians, Ukrainians, Byelorussians, but also Chuvashes, Dolgans, Evenks and many others.

Statistics

During the Soviet era, the authorities took various actions aimed at large-scale forced resettlement and the mixing of peoples. All this led to the fact that some unique nationalities lost their identity.

Krasnoyarsk region, alas, this fate did not pass by. However, according to the population census, the most numerous peoples of the Krasnoyarsk Territory still exist to this day. The influence of the authorities, as well as government programs aimed at preserving and restoring the traditions of the local population, contribute to the positive dynamics and further development of communities with a unique heritage and traditions of generations.

Who is there?

What peoples inhabit the Krasnoyarsk Territory? In response to this question, the reader most likely wants to hear about the indigenous population that lived in this territory from time immemorial.

The most prominent representatives are the Nganasans, Dolgans, Khanty, Enets and Evenks. There are up to a dozen different nationalities living in the North, and they are the indigenous peoples of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Unfortunately, very much of their traditions, cultural heritage is forgotten. Life of small ethnic groups dissolved in the modern world, assimilated. This is not surprising, because life in the tundra is very complex, and modern technology in many ways facilitates it, but the arrival of progress is the reason for the replacement of an original culture, incomparable to any other.

Mom all over the head

All the peoples inhabiting the Krasnoyarsk Territory are incredibly interesting, and each of them has its own characteristic traditions. The most numerous are Dolgan. Perhaps their high numbers allowed to preserve many ancient customs to this day. Of course, many of them are purely symbolic, but they are not forgotten and used in families.

So, the head of the family is considered to be the oldest woman in the house, the keeper of the hearth, the wet nurse. The word of a woman is a law, nobody has the right to disobey him. Chose as the head of the most wise woman who has seen everything in life.

The indigenous peoples of the Krasnoyarsk Territory obtained their livelihood by hunting, fishing or gathering. The hard work that people had to do to feed themselves and their families, developed the habit of sharing what they got with their relatives and neighbors. And this was the rule, not tolerating exceptions. Today you will share, tomorrow someone will treat you. The only thing that always remained within the confines of one family was fur, which could be exchanged for scarce food from visiting merchants.

Worship of the Universe

The peoples of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and their traditions were formed in different ways, many were depending on the way of life and certain ways. The customs of Khanty and Mansiysk are very characteristic.

Their timid attitude to nature in our time seems outlandish and like worship. For example, the norm was to divide the surrounding area into shares. Among these were the areas on which it was forbidden to step with foot without sacrifice.

Such actions were accompanied by a number of rituals, including offering, prayer, and sometimes it was enough to "take shoes". Traditional, habitual shoes were not there at that time, and pieces of wood bark were attached to their feet, thus protecting not the foot from the ground, but, on the contrary, nature from human interference.

In addition, these peoples of the Krasnoyarsk Territory treat animals and birds in their own way. The crow, which is mostly considered a harbinger of troubles and troubles, is here considered to be the ruler of spring. It is associated with the arrival of heat, well-being and fertility.

Traditionally, during the arrival of crows celebrated the holiday. It involved only the female half of the village. During the celebration, the girls cooked porridge according to a special recipe. All actions were accompanied by song singing and dancing.

There is much to learn

The peoples of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and their traditions are in critical condition, some of them are on the verge of extinction. Ents is only two hundred! Slightly larger than Evens. They are with great trepidation of the traditions, which gives hope for their future.

This people are accustomed to living in peace with nature, worshiping it and honoring it. Wisdom and responsible approach to the environment are expressed in traditions, the violation of which is fraught with misfortunes and grief in the family. Most often, traditional beliefs are described in a large number of prohibitions. For example, Ents can not be screamed to not wake severe spirits, you can not throw stones into the water and even kill animals for fun. You need to hunt only to provide yourself with food.

The habits of the generations are manifested and during the celebrations associated with important events in the life of a person. It can be a wedding, the birth of a baby, a funeral. So, when a marriage is made, the dowry of the wife is taken out of the dwelling so that no one doubts about its contribution to the overall "budget".

Liberty or justified freedom?

A few peoples inhabiting the Krasnoyarsk Territory are special, but perhaps one of the most surprising is the Nganasane. The current free way of life for the elderly people seems blasphemous, vulgar. The more unusual is the traditional view of some of these people's questions.

Nganasane is very revered by family values, after marriage, the couple is obliged to keep marital fidelity. But before marriage, many "pranks" are allowed. A girl can freely live with the guy she likes. They exchange gifts and are now considered a couple. Business can reach marriage, up to simple parting, and can end with an illegitimate child. It is regarded as normal, because the attitude towards children of the northern peoples is special. The baby, whose daughter gave birth without being married, is accepted by her parents and brought up as a native.

The traditions connected with leaving in the other world are very interesting. Permafrost does not allow burying the dead in the grave. The body is suspended in a tree or placed on a special platform. At the same time the deceased "takes" with him all the acquired property, and not only personal use, but also what he did for the children, the second half.

The role of the authorities in the life of the indigenous population

At all times, the authorities were interested in what kind of people inhabit the Krasnoyarsk Territory, and this manifested itself in different ways.

If the past century has clearly shown how easily it is possible to destroy the national identity, then in the present century the lost are trying, if not multiply, then restored and preserved.

For the small peoples of the Krasnoyarsk Territory to survive and not forget their roots, since 2000, there has been state support for communities and individuals identified as representatives of a small ethnic group.

To consider yourself and be called a dolman, Evenk or Khant became profitable and popular. But in this process, there is a significant drawback. I would very much like that everything that remains traditional and typical, does not become solely a way to earn money.