Yukaghir
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Yukaghir, or Yukagirs (Russian: юкаги́ры; self-designation: одул (odul), деткиль (detkil)) are a people in East Siberia, living in the basin of the Kolyma River.
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[edit] Region
The Tundra Yukagirs live in the Lower Kolyma region in the Sakha Republic; the Taiga Yukagirs—in the Upper Kolyma region in the Sakha Republic and in Srednekansky District of Magadan Oblast. By the time of the Russian colonization in the 17th century, the Yukagir tribal groups (Chuvans, Khodyns, Anauls, etc.) occupied territories from the Lena River to the mouth of the Anadyr River. The number of the Yukagirs decreased between the 17th and 19th centuries due to epidemics, internecine wars and tsarist colonial policy. Some of the Yukagirs have assimilated with the Yakuts, Evens, and Russians.
In present days Yukagir live in Yakut-Sakha republic and Chukchi Autonomous region of the Russian Federation. According to the 2002 Census, their total number was 1,509 people, up from 1,112 recorded in the 1989 Census).
[edit] Language
The Yukaghir language is a language isolate. Some scholars consider it distantly related to the Uralic languages, but this classification is not accepted by the majority of specialists in Uralic linguistics. The language is regarded as seriously endangered.
Most of the Yukagirs speak mainly Yakut and Russian language.
[edit] Traditional tribes
The 13 tribes which constituted the Yukaghir group were:
- Vadul-Alais
- Odul
- Chuvan
- Anaoul
- Lavren
- Olyuben
- Omok
- Penjin
- Khodynt
- Khoromoy
- Shoromboy
- Yandin
- Yandyr
The surviving three tribes are the Odul of Nelemnoe, the Vadul of Andryushkino and the Chuvan of Anadyr river area. Of the extinct groups, the important ones were the Khodynt, the Anaoul (Both of Anadyr River Area), and the Omok (North of the Chuvan). Sometimes the Chuvan is considered as a separate tribe. The Chuvantsy language has been extinct since early 20th century. In 2002 only 1087 identified themselves as Chuvan compared to over 1300 in 1989. The Vadul are mainly involved in reindeer herding while the Odul (Kogime) are mostly hunter-gatherers. The Vadul are also known as tundra Yukaghir. The Odul are also known as taiga/forest Yukaghir or Kolyma Yukaghir. The Vadul and Odul languages are as different as German is from Dutch. Both are nearing extinction and Odul is in a much weaker state compared to Vadul. In the 1989 census, more than 700 of the Yukaghirs reported were Vadul while less than 400 were Odul. Yukagir Indigenous people is one of the oldest peoples in the North-Eastern Asia. Long time ago they lived on a huge territory from lake Baikal to the Arctic ocean. By the time of the first encounter with Russians Yukagir had twelve tribes with the combined number of people up to 9 000. The selfname of Yukagir is “Odul” or “Vadul” - which means “mighty”.
The tribal divisions among the Yukaghir are fading now. Although in every census from 1926, significant number of tribesmen identified themselves with tribal divisions like Anaoul,Odul and Vadul rather than describing themselves as Yukaghir. The soviet government actively discouraged this tendency and now only the most elderly does so. For example in 2002 census, out of the 1,509 Yukaghirs, 51 identified themselves as Omok, 40 as Alais, 21 as Odul, 17 as Vadul, 6 as Khangait and 4 as Detkil.
[edit] Clan system
The head of every clan was an elder - “Ligey Shomorokh”. His word was the last in all aspects of life. The actual leaders in hunt were the best hunters - “Khangitche”, in war - the war chief “Tonbaia Shomorokh” (the mighty man). Women and teenagers had equal voices with men. The internal life of the community was under the control of the older women mothers. Their decisions in those matters were indisputable.
In the beginning of every summer all clans gather together for the common celebration “Sakhadzibe”, where all the common for Yukagir questions were discussed.
In Yakut-Sakha republic there are three nomadic extended family communities. They are “Tchaila” in Nizhnekolymsk district, “Teki Odulok” in Verkhnekolymsk district and “Ianugail” in Ust’-Iansk district.
The head of “Ianugail” is I.I. Tomsky. The community’s main activities are deer hunting and fishing.
“Tchaila” is the biggest of the three. Its head is S. I. Kurilov. They have 4000 domesticated reindeers, 200 horses, 20 cows. The community is also hunting the wild deers and polar foxes. There is also a shop where traditional skin and fur garments are made.
The head of “Teki Odulok” is N. I. Shalugin. Their base is the village of Nelemnoe. This community is in the most difficult situation. Due to the “creative interpretation” of various perestroika and privatization laws by the local and district administration and so-called businessmen the community has lost all reindeers, cows and even part of its land. All they have left are about 50 horses. They have no money to by supplies for hunting and fishing. 80% of all adult population is de-facto unemployed.
The highest forum for Yukagir is the all-people gathering “Suktuul”.
[edit] Religion
Alongside the Russian orthodox believes Yukagir still practice shamanism. The dominant cults are the cults of the ancestral spirits, the spirits of Fire, Sun, Hunt, Earth, Water and other deities. The spirits can act as protectors and as enemies of people. The highest is the cult of Sun. The Sun is the highest judge in all disputes. The spirits of the dead go to “Aibidzi” where they are continually watching people and help them. Every clan had a shaman “Alma”. After death every shaman was treated as a deity. The body of the dead shaman was cut to small pieces and kept by the clan members as holly objects.
[edit] Economics
The main traditional activity is nomadic and semi-nomadic hunting of wild deer, moose, ram, sable as well as fishing. Reindeer is bred mostly for transportation, as well as dogs.
Decline of the traditional economic activities, horrible environmental situation of Yukagir’s traditional lands and waters, absence of local and federal laws and executive mechanisms protecting Indigenous peoples - all resulted in dreadful situation of Yukagir communities. Average life span for men is 45 years, for women - 54 years. The child mortality is the highest in Yakut-Sakha republic.
