Shamanism in Siberia

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Siberia is regarded as the locus classicus of shamanism ^[1]. It is inhabited by many different ethnic groups. Many of its Uralic, Altaic, and Paleosiberian peoples observe shamanistic practices even in modern times. Many classical ethnographic sources of “shamanism” were recorded among Siberian people.

1 Living shamanistic practices also in modern times
- 1.1 Uralic
  - 1.1.1 Samoyedic
  - 1.1.2 Finno-Ugric
2 Notes
3 See also

[edit] Living shamanistic practices also in modern times

[edit] Uralic

Uralic languages are proven to form a genalogical unit, a language family.

Not all Uralic peoples live in Siberia or have shamanistic features any more. Saami people had kept living shamanistic practice for a long time. They live in Europe, they practiced shamaism till cca the 18^th century ^[1]. Some other peoples (e.g. Hungarian, Finnic, Mari) have only remnant elements of shamanism ^[1]. Majority of Uralic population lives outside Siberia.

Two main branches of Uralian family are Samoyedic and Finno-Ugric.

[edit] Samoyedic

Samoyedic peoples were hunter-gatherers or reindeer breeders, and shamanism was a living tradition also in modern times, especially at hunter-gatherer groups, or living in isolation until recent times (Nganasans) ^[1].

Nenets people, Enets people, Nganasan people live in North Siberia (Nenets live also in Euoropean parts), they provide classical examples and living shamanistic practices were recorded also in the second half of the 20^th century. Selkups live more to the south, shamanism was in decline also at the beginning of 20^th century ^[1].

[edit] Finno-Ugric

As mentioned, not all Finno-Ugric peoples practiced shamanism in the modern times. Many of Finno-Ugric peoples (includig those of the largest population: Hungarian people, Finnish people) live outside Siberia. Others live in the western part of Siberia (if we define this area in the broadest sense).

Saami shamanism existed till cca the second half of 18^th century ^[1]. They live outside Siberia.

Folklore about shamans could be recorded even in the second half of the 20^th century among Khanty people, Mansi people ^[1].

[edit] Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Hoppál, Mihály: Sámánok Eurázsiában. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, 2005. ISBN 963-05-8295-3. (The title means “Shamans in Eurasia”, the book is written in Hungarian, but it is published also in German, Estonian and Finnish.) Site of publisher with short description on the book (in Hungarian).