Dwelling of the indigenous peoples of Kamchatka, the Koryaks. Small peoples of russia

Inhabiting within the Primorsky Territory along the shores and on the Kamchatka Peninsula, on the one hand, in the vicinity of the Tungus, on the other, with the Chukchi. The first information about the Koryaks appeared at the beginning of the 17th century, after the campaigns on. At the same time, the ethnonym "Koryaks" first appeared. It probably goes back to the Koryak word chora ("deer"). According to their way of life, the Koryaks are divided into sedentary and wandering (sedentary and nomads).

The type of Koryaks is in many ways different from the Mongolian: a somewhat flattened head, a round face, small cheekbones, small, lively and bold eyes, a long nose, often hunchbacked, a large mouth, a dark complexion, a sparse beard, black hair, short-cropped in men, women - braided in two braids; the growth is moderate, the physique is strong and slender, especially among the Olyutors.

The Koryak language, generally similar to the Chukchi language, is divided into 5 adverbs. Sedentary Koryaks profess Orthodoxy, the majority of nomads belong to shamanism. Koryak idolaters, to propitiate their gods, make sacrifices either of deer, putting their heads on large stones facing the east, or of dogs, hanging them on high poles around their huts. Of the animals, the wolf (a servant of an evil spirit) is revered, the skin of which plays an important role in shamanic rituals.

The traditional dwelling of the sedentary Koryaks is part of the house, the dwelling of nomads is the huts, the pole-conical frame of which is covered with reindeer skins. Traditional clothing: doll - a kind of deerskin shirt (with short hair in summer), intercepted by a belt at the waist, trimmed with black fur at the hem, decorated with beads and metal plates; fur pants, high boots made of deerskin and a large wolf hat; sometimes the cap is replaced by a hood sewn to the doll. Women's festive dress is trimmed with otter and wolverine fur and embroidered with beads.

Sedentary Koryaks are engaged in hunting and fishing. Hunting boats (kayaks) are quite light; their wooden frame is covered with seal skins. Meat is for food, furs are for sale. Dogs are also kept for riding. Some of the sedentary Koryaks prepare warm winter clothes from reindeer skins for sale to visiting merchants; Also, articles of iron and walrus tusks (spoons, pipes) necessary for the everyday life of foreigners are made.

The nomadic Koryaks are almost exclusively engaged in reindeer herding; some nomads hunt for fur animals. In the summer, some of the Koryaks are busy collecting roots, especially the bulbs of the sarana (Lilium). Their main food is deer meat and yukola.

They speak the Koryak language, the writing system is based on Russian. Some of the Koryak believers are Orthodox. Traditional beliefs are also widespread: shamanism, trade cults.

general information

The Koryaks did not have a single self-name. Group self-names: chavchiv, chav "chu," reindeer breeder "," rich in reindeer "; nymylgyn," local resident ", peasant; nymylg-aremku, remku chavchiv," nomadic resident ", etc.

In the 20s. XX century. An attempt was made to give the self-name nymylgyn in the form of “nymylan” the character of the official name of the people, but it did not take root and the old name “Koryak” was restored. The ethnonym is most likely borrowed by the Russians from the Yukaghirs, who called the Koryaks Karak.

They speak the Koryak language, which has several dialects: Chavchuven, Apukin, Itkan, Kamensk, Paren, Karagin, Palan, Kerek. Russian is widely spoken. Writing in Russian graphics.

The Koryaks constitute one of the ethnic subdivisions of the northeastern Paleoasians, formed on the basis of the inland cultural traditions of the Neolithic hunters. At the beginning of the 1st millennium AD, the ancient Koryak hunting culture was transformed into a specialized culture of marine hunters. The transition to marine hunting and settlement contributed to the isolation of certain groups of ancient Koryaks, the fragmentation of the language into dialects. The final stage ethnogenesis of the Koryaks - the formation of reindeer groups of Chavchuvens. The Koryaks were introduced to reindeer herding relatively late, presumably in the 11th-16th centuries. as a result of the borrowing of reindeer husbandry from the Tungus. The transition of some coastal residents to a new occupation caused significant changes in the cultural appearance of the ethnic group, which led to final formation of the Koryak people.

Settlement area and number

The Koryaks form the core of the indigenous population of the Koryak Autonomous Okrug; they also live in the Severo-Evensky District of the Magadan Region and in Chukotka. In 1989, there were 9242 Koryaks in the USSR, incl. in the Russian Federation - 8942. In the Koryak Autonomous Okrug Koryaks - 71% of their total number - 6572. In the Magadan Region - about 11% (1013 people). There are only a few dozen Koryaks in Chukotka.

The migration of the Koryaks outside the boundaries of their traditional habitat becomes noticeable. So, if the total number of Koryaks increased in 1970-1989. by 25%, then in the Koryak Autonomous Okrug only by 11%. A large Koryak community was formed in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - 386 people. More than 300 people were recorded by the 1989 census outside Russian Federation... Current information on the population size needs to be clarified.

In the Koryak Autonomous Okrug, Koryaks live in all settlements. They are the predominant part of the population in 13 settlements (see table). In the Magadan Region, the largest Koryak village is Verkhnyaya Paren.

Lifestyle and life support system

The traditional occupations of the Koryaks are reindeer husbandry, fishing, and marine hunting. All Chavchuvens and most of the Alyutor Koryaks were engaged in reindeer husbandry. The herds reached 2-3 thousand deer. The deer gave the Chavchuvens everything they needed for life. The fishery was most developed among the people of Karagin, Alyutors and Palanians, for them fish was the main food product. But fishing played an important role for other groups as well. All groups of sedentary Koryaks and reindeer herders-Alyutors were engaged in marine hunting. Fur trade among the Koryaks did not occupy a leading position, but hunting for ungulates and birds was widespread.

IN soviet period in economic life Koryaks, great changes have taken place. It ceased to exist as a branch of marine hunting. Fishing was concentrated in fishing collective farms and bears little resemblance to traditional fishing. Koryaks did not work much to catch fish, the main catch was industrial fishing. By the beginning of the 90s. in the Koryak Autonomous Okrug there were about 160 thousand deer, which corresponded to the number of available pastures. Reindeer husbandry is the only branch of the economy in which the vast majority of the employed were Koryaks, but the modern structure of their employment was determined by new occupations ( Agriculture, industry, social services and other sectors). The collapse of collective and state farm production in the 90s. significantly changed the picture of employment. According to official data, the number of unemployed among the small peoples of the North in the district in 1992-1997. increased by 9.4 times.

The decisive role in the life support of the Koryaks in the present stage national enterprises, family-clan communities, farms created in all districts of the district began to play. However, their efficiency is extremely low. The number of domesticated reindeer declined in 1990-1998. up to 63 thousand heads. Due to the lack of enterprises for the complex processing of reindeer meat, the growth of tariffs for transport services, a significant part of the production is not exported to places of consumption. Marine hunting is in a crisis situation, and fish catches are declining. The population essentially switched over to subsistence farming. The monetary incomes of the indigenous population in the district do not provide even half of the subsistence minimum.

Ethno-social setting

Koryaksky autonomous region- one of the few in the Russian Federation, where the peoples of the North make up more than a quarter of the total population. This largely determines their rather high status in social and political life. At the same time, it is in this district, due to objective conditions (weak industrial base, undeveloped transport infrastructure, lack of a domestic market, etc.), where a particularly difficult ethno-social situation is observed. Problems with northern delivery have exacerbated the situation with power supply and heating in villages, there is a shortage of food, and prices are rising. IN last years all summer there is no electricity in many villages of the district. People cooked food on fires. There was no communication between the villages and the regional center, helicopters did not even fly on medical missions, telephones and radio did not work. The fall in living standards, the crisis in the health care system led to an increase in the incidence of diseases of the indigenous population. If in 1993 the overall incidence in Russia as a whole was 983 per 1000 people, then in the Koryak Okrug - 1358. The okrug has one of the highest incidences of tuberculosis in the country - 1459 per 100 thousand population. Household disorder, unemployment provokes drunkenness. On this basis, injuries are growing. The mortality rate associated with injuries caused by drunkenness is 342 cases per 100 thousand of the population, which is 1.7 times more than in the country as a whole.

Ethno-cultural situation

An appropriate infrastructure has been created in the district, focused on solving the ethnocultural problems of the indigenous population - the Palan Pedagogical School, which trains teachers of the Koryak language. There is a district museum, art schools in district centers. Despite the difficult economic situation in the district, all of them continue to function today. Much of the rich cultural heritage of the Koryaks is preserved - folk arts and crafts, folklore choreographic groups work in almost all villages, the famous ensemble "Mengo" has not stopped its activities.

According to the 1989 census, 52.4% of the Koryak consider the Koryak language to be native, and 46.8% consider Russian. Like other peoples of the North, the native language of the Koryaks is certainly losing its position, but the situation cannot be considered hopeless. The Koryak language is taught at school, mainly in the primary grades. Since the mid-50s. literature has been published on it, since the mid-80s. some editions are published in Kamchatka. The district radio broadcasts in the Koryak language. Pages in the Koryak language are published as supplements to the district and regional newspapers. But the main thing is that in many families, especially reindeer herding families, the linguistic environment of communication is preserved.

Management and self-government bodies

The Koryak Autonomous Okrug (created in 1930) is a constituent entity of the Russian Federation. The Koryaks and other peoples of the North take part in its executive and representative bodies. Among the deputies of the Duma of the district, they make up 60%. At one time, representatives of the indigenous population were the governor of the district and the Chairman of the Duma. A significant part of the Koryaks work in regional government bodies, heads of rural and settlement administrations.

The functions of self-government bodies are performed by various public associations, endowed, in accordance with the Charter of the Okrug, with the right of legislative initiative in the Duma of the Koryak Autonomous Okrug. The most authoritative of them is the Association of Indigenous Minorities of the North of the Koryak Autonomous Okrug, which has its own territorial and ethnic branches in each of the regions. A similar Association operates in the Magadan Region, which includes the Koryaks of the Severo-Evensky District.

Legal documents and laws

The Koryak Autonomous Okrug is one of the leaders in the development of the legislative and regulatory framework in the interests of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North. Already at the very beginning of the 90s. a whole package was passed here normative documents which are of vital importance for the Koryaks and other peoples of the North. Among them are the decision of the Presidium of the Council of People's Deputies of the Okrug "On measures to preserve the traditional cultural, religious and spiritual values ​​of the peoples of the North", "Temporary regulation on the transfer of land plots for farm (peasant) reindeer husbandry", approved "Temporary status of a national enterprise", Regulation on the order of distribution of catch limits for salmon species ”and others. The legislative and regulatory framework of the Koryak Autonomous Okrug, dedicated to indigenous peoples, is currently composed of the following legal acts:

The Law "On Territories of Traditional Nature Management in the Koryak Autonomous Okrug" was adopted by the Okrug Duma on May 21, 1997.

The law "On the status of the tribal community of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North" was adopted by the Duma of the Okrug on November 12, 1997.

The Law “On the Organization of Territorial Public Self-Government of the Population of the Koryak Auth. district ", adopted in 1997.

The law "On the procedure for classifying land as state, municipal and private property" was adopted by the Duma on June 18, 1997.

Regulations on the national enterprise and main directions traditional species folk crafts, approved by the Decree of the Duma on May 28, 1998

The regulation “On the procedure for catching salmon by residents of the Koryak Autonomous Okrug for personal consumption” was approved by the Duma on March 28, 1996.

Contemporary problems the environment

The territory of the Koryak Autonomous Okrug is poorly affected by industrial construction, there are no large industrial enterprises federal significance. However, here, too, the problems of preserving the environment are quite acute. As a result of anthropogenic impact, the pasture area is shrinking. In the 80s, early 90s. Several dozen geological teams and parties worked in the district; about 1 million hectares of reindeer moss were in their field of activity. Drilling of wells, seismic explosions, dozens of tractors and all-terrain vehicles annually render hundreds of hectares of pasture unusable, which are already in short supply in the district. Of particular concern is the state of pastures in the Tigil region, where in recent years there have been a lot of expeditions. Fires are becoming a real disaster. As a result of the reduction in the import of energy carriers and food products in recent years, the load on the natural environment near settlements has increased - forests are intensively cut down for firewood, poaching of ungulates and fishing has increased. Commercial fishing off the coast of the Okrug undermines the resource base of salmon, which play an extremely important role for the livelihoods of the indigenous population.

Prospects for the preservation of the Koryaks as an ethnic group

Despite the difficult socio-economic situation in the district, the deteriorating demographic indicators, the decline in the level and quality of life, the Koryaks retain the necessary potential for preserving themselves as an ethnic system. State assistance in solving economic problems the indigenous population, with the further expansion of its independence and self-government, is able to reverse negative trends, create favorable conditions for a full-fledged ethnic life.

The Koryaks are the indigenous people of Kamchatka. Where do the Koryaks live? Koryaks are the indigenous inhabitants of northern Kamchatka, who today live only in Russia, namely, in the Kamchatka Territory, Chukotka district and the Magadan region.

The number of Koryak is not at all large - only about 8 thousand people. The main language spoken by the Koryaks is Russian, but a quarter of the population speaks the Koryak language.

Since ancient times, the Koryaks were divided into tundra and coastal ones, based on their occupation.

Tundra Koryaks - Chavchuvens, who led a nomadic lifestyle, whose main occupation was reindeer breeding.

Coastal Koryaks led a sedentary lifestyle along the coast of the sea, and were mainly engaged in fishing.

Koryaks - ancient people, the first mention of which is found in documents of the 17th century. According to historical data, it was the Koryaks who became the creators of the Okhotsk culture, back in the 1st century BC. According to legend, the Koryaks have common ancestors with the Indians, as evidenced by numerous historical data.

The name "Koryaks" was derived from the reindeer that were bred, which in translation from the Koryak language means "who own the reindeer."

The very first Koryaks immigrated to the Kamchatka Peninsula from Eastern Siberia 15,000 years ago. Thanks to the active Okhotsk activities, the Koryaks were considered a warlike and courageous people. They were excellent with bow and arrow.

In the 18th century, the Koryaks refused to accept the power of tsarist Russia, and only by the middle of the 19th century began the assimilation of the region. At the beginning of the 20th century, during the reign of the Soviet regime, nomadic life in Kamchatka was declining, the indigenous people with settlers set up settlements and develop reindeer farming and fishing. Shamans of the Koryak people are persecuted and repressed.

The Koryak have developed a craft from the material at hand for their region. Here they were engaged in bone carving, made products from fur and leather, weaved baskets and sacks.

Koryak dwelling

The Koryaks lived in dugouts, the entrance to which was a chimney in the roof of the dwelling.

Nomadic Koryaks lived in portable tents, which were called "yaranga", and reindeer skins served as a shelter for the tent.

Only in the 18th century, under the influence of Russian culture, wooden log cabins began to appear in Kamchatka.

Koryak's appearance

The Koryaks were representatives of the Mongoloid race of the Arctic type.

Description of the appearance of the indigenous population of Kamchatka:

• Round face with prominent cheekbones;
• Slender, strong fig of short stature;
• Large lips and large nose;
• Small eyes;
• Black coarse hair.

Koryak clothes

The traditional clothes of the Koryak consisted of pants, shirts and overalls, which were sewn from skins and fur. Reindeer and seal skins were used for clothing. In winter, the Koryaks wore a long double fur coat both inside and outside, which was called a kukhlyanka.

The head was protected by fur hoods, and the Koryaks also used fur gloves. Women decorated their clothes with fur inserts and fringes.

Life and traditions of the Koryaks

Surprisingly, women and men of the Koryak people tattooed their ears and face, which signified the social status of the family. The Koryaks lived in large families from 20 to 100 people, the head of which was the oldest and most influential man.

Each family had its own household and home. And for fishing and sea hunting, families united into collectives.

The men were the head of the family, providing the house with food and dealing with serious issues. Women had equal rights with men, but they observed strict morals. The Koryaks were very jealous, so a glance in the direction of a strange woman or a compliment could cause fights and murders.

The main activity of the coastal Koryaks was hunting large sea animals: seals, seals and whales. Which required significant preparation and effort, so the tribes united.

In winter, the Koryaks hunted hares, bears, and sheep, and in the spring spawning began - the most suitable time for fishing. IN coastal zone Kamchatka swam smelt, herring, chum salmon, pink salmon, sockeye salmon.

The religion of the indigenous Koryaks is closely connected with the forces of nature. Local shamans performed various rituals using masks and skins. However, in the 19th century, Christianity began to spread more and more in Kamchatka, which is now the main religion of the peninsula.

Traditional Koryak cuisine

The main diet of the Koryak consists of deer meat and meat of sea animals, depending on the region of residence of the tribe. One of the shocking dishes for tourists is pickled salmon heads, which are considered a delicacy near the coastal Koryak.

Today the Koryaks are a modern people who develop medicine, education, culture, have access to purchased products, buying tea, cereals, flour. And due to fishing, the Koryaks have the opportunity to develop their region economically.

Arriving in Kamchatka, tourists will be surprised how ancient traditions and modern life are intertwined in one region, perfectly combined in one people.

Koryaks live in the northern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. The first settlements in Asia were discovered by Europeans along the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The Koryaks are the only people that do not have a self-name, but only group names, which in translations into our language sounds like: a local resident, a nomadic resident, a reindeer breeder rich in deer, villagers. Naturally, they speak the Koryak language. A total of about 8.7 thousand people.

Number

There are 8.7 thousand Koryaks in the world. The entire population is on the territory of the Russian Federation:

• Kamchatka (7.3 thousand);
• Magadan (890 people);
• Moscow (90 people);
• St. Petersburg (70 people);
• Chukotka (55 people);
• Khabarovsk (50 people).

In other countries, the Koryaks have not been recorded.

Kamchatka

Origin

It is very difficult to judge the origin of the nationality, because historical facts, archaeological excavations and other information are not enough to have an idea of ​​the past. The only thing we can say for sure is that the Koryaks were found during the discovery of Kamchatka. Although there are also several opinions about the origin of the name:

1. In the 17th century, the Russian Cossacks who came to the island gave this name to the local settlement.
2. The neighboring tribes of the Yukaghirs called their neighbors this way.

Description of the nationality

They are very kind people, they will always come to the rescue, regardless of the circumstances. They are very emotional and empathic. They are wary of Russians. Outwardly, these are representatives of the Mongoloid race, therefore they have narrowed eyes, a round face and pronounced cheekbones.

Distribution by groups

All Koryaks speak the Koryak language, which belongs to the Chukchi-Kamchatka group of Paleoasian languages. But the language itself is divided into several forms of dialects (already 12):

• kerek;
• chavchuvensky;
• gizhiginsky;
• Karagin;
• boyish;
• apukin;
• Itkan;
• Olyutorsky (Alyutorsky);
• Kamensky;
• pallan (palansky or lesnovsky);
• rekinnikovsky;
• kakhtaninsky.

But only 2 thousand people maintain traditions and constantly speak their native language, the whole bulk in Russian and a small percentage of the settlement in Alyur. Therefore, the Koryak language belongs to the languages ​​that are under the threat of extinction.

They have similarities with the Chukchi. The Koryaks themselves are divided into 2 groups:

• tundra (nomadic, reindeer herders);
• seaside (sedentary, fishermen).

The Koryaks are not a highly educated people, writing appeared late, only in 1931 based on Latin. Later, the Russian language was taken as a basis, but adjusted to the Chavchuven dialect, which is the most widespread in Kamchatka.

Religion

Most Koryaks support Orthodoxy, but shamanism is not uncommon. They call God - "The one that is on top" and sacrifice dogs as a gift. In our time, shamans are losing their power, earlier they could resurrect the dead, that is, return the soul from that world (or simply not let die). Modern shamans are no longer able to do this.

Animism is widespread, animate objects, and also anyapels - magic stones, signs, etc.

Kitchen

Koryaks eat what nature has given them: fish, deer, etc. Therefore national dishes such food is considered:

• sour heads (something like pickled fish heads);
• wil-wil (fermented fresh deer blood soup);
• cat (sea potatoes);
• yukola (fish skin);
• tutgau (smoked fish).

Wil-wil is a traditional New Year's dish. But red caviar is used as dog food.

clothing

For the Koryaks, all clothes are of the deaf type, that is, they are worn over the head. Most of the clothes were made from reindeer skins. Summer and winter clothes differed only in thickness. Also over time, fabrics were bought from merchants and lighter versions were sewn. Among the traditional ones are kukhlyanki. They can wear silver jewelry, but in small quantities.

Lodging

Reindeer herders build yarangas (very similar to a yurt), and coastal Koryaks lived in dugouts.

Traditions

Koyanaytatyk - main holiday reindeer herders celebrated it 2 times a year. It consisted in driving reindeer in autumn and spring to new pastures, around the days of the solstice. These days the Koryaks had fun: they rode reindeer with sleds, ran up the icy pillars and much more. Anglers celebrate fish spawning.

Among the rich Koryaks, polygamy is encountered. And it was not uncommon for the owner to be honored when a male guest chose one of his wives for the night. But in other families, where there is one wife, the husband, on the contrary, is very jealous. It was not uncommon for a wife to go out to people in "bad clothes" so that they would not pay attention to her.

Modern encyclopedia

KORYAK- the people, the indigenous population of the Koryak Autonomous Okrug of the Russian Federation (7 thousand people). They also live in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and Magadan Region. The total number is 9 thousand people (1992). The language is Koryak. Orthodox believers ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

KORYAK- KORYAK, Koryak, units. Koryak, Koryak, husband. Nationality in the extreme north-east of Asia. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

KORYAK- KORYAKS, s, units. yak, ah, husband. The people that make up the main indigenous population of Kamchatka. | wives koryachka, and. | adj. Koryaksky, oh, oh. Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

KORYAK- Koryaks, people in the Russian Federation (7 thousand people). The indigenous population of the Koryak Autonomous Okrug. They also live in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and in the Magadan Region. The Koryak language is the Chukchi-Kamchatka family of Paleoasian languages. Believers ... ... Russian history

KORYAK- Mongolian people. tribe, lives in Priamursk. region and Kamchatka. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910 ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

Koryaks- (self-names chavchiv, chavchu, nymylagyn, nymyl arenka, rymku chavchiv) a nation with a total number of 9 thousand people. They live on the territory of the Russian Federation, incl. Koryak Autonomous Okrug (7 thousand people). The language is Koryak. Religious ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Koryaks- s; pl. The people that make up the main population of the Koryak Autonomous District of the Kamchatka Region; representatives of this people. ◁ Koryak, a; m. Koryachka, and; pl. genus. check, dates chekam; f. Koryaksky, oh, oh. * * * Koryak people in Russia, indigenous people ... encyclopedic Dictionary

KORYAK- the people making up the main. population of the Koryaksky nat. env. Kamchatka region., Also live in the Chukotka nat. env. and Severo Evensky district of Magadan region. The self-designation of the coastal K. nymylyn, K. chavchyv reindeer breeders. Num. K. 6.3 tons (1959). Koryak language. ... ... Soviet Historical Encyclopedia

Koryaks- the people that make up the main population of the Koryak National District of the Kamchatka Region of the RSFSR. They also live in the Chukotka National District and the Severo Evensky District of the Magadan Region. The population is 7.5 thousand people (1970, census). ... ... Big Soviet encyclopedia

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• The culture of the ethnolocal community (Koryaks of the village of Verkhniy guy), Khakhovskaya Lyudmila Nikolaevna. The culture of one of the most interesting and original Koryak groups - the inhabitants of the village of Verkhniy Paren is presented. This western group of Koryaks was influenced by a number of contact ethnic groups that ...