Russia is a multinational country. The north of the vast territory is distinguished by severe climatic conditions. Surviving them is not an easy task. It is here that representatives of numerous nationalities live, the community of which is commonly called the "peoples of the North."
The term "Russian North" is used to refer to the following subjects of the federation: the Republic of Komi, Tuva, Yakutia and Karelia, the Nenets and Chukotka Autonomous Districts, Irkutsk, Murmansk, Magadan, Sakhalin and Arkhangelsk Regions, Krasnoyarsk, Khabarovsk and Kamchatka Territories. The population of these territories is Russians, including Russians. However, according to the Unified List of Indigenous Minorities of the Russian Federation of 2000, representatives of 40 ethnic groups live here, which, despite integration into the society of modern Russia, retain their languages and original culture.
Aleuts are the natives of Kamchatka islands, the main place of residence is the village of Nikolskoye. The language is one of the Eskimo dialects, studied and used. The original beliefs - shamanism and animalism - were supplanted by Orthodoxy in the 18th century.
Other peoples of Kamchatka: Itelmans, Koryaks, Evens, Ainu, Yukagirs, Eskimos, Chukchi.
The settlements of the Chukchi (Chukchi) are located in various territories of the far north-east of Asia of the Russian Federation, so far many Chukchi lead a nomadic lifestyle. Center - Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (Anadyr city). They profess both Orthodoxy and shamanism. Fishermen (whalers), wildlife hunters and reindeer herders. The language is Chukchi, today it is studied and used in the media. The traditional home is yaranga. Chukchi, as well as some other peoples of the North, is not recommended to drink alcohol due to the instant formation of dependence, due to genetic characteristics. In the USSR, it was forbidden to sell alcohol in the areas of the Chukchi.
Khanty (Khanty, Hande) and Mansi are related peoples, descendants of the Finno-Ugric tribe, inhabiting mainly the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug of modern Russia. Both peoples have their own languages, which are alive and used in the media. There is an original myth system, with the cult of the Great Bear and the tradition of the deification of trees and plants. The traditional home is the plague. The Khanty had an interesting custom of "air burial": the body of the deceased was suspended in the air, betraying the "light".
Sámi (Sámi, Laplanders) - live in different countries (Finland, Norway), in Russia - mainly in the Murmansk region (Lovozero village). February 6 is International Sami Day, the people have their own flag and anthem, a lively language with many dialects. Religion is associated with faith in water spirits, which obey rivers and lakes, man-deer, there are traditions of shamanism. However, most Russian Sami adhere to Orthodox Christianity.
Nanai - in Russia they live mainly in the Khabarovsk Territory, where there is a Nanai district. A living language with Cyrillic script. Nanai is a participant in World War II, a popular singer in the USSR, Cola Beldy, whose song about a ride on deer in the early morning sounds to this day.
Yakuts (Sakha) - the people who made a great contribution to the development of science, culture, sports of the USSR and Russia. Own written language, own literature (the most famous authors are A.E. Kulakovsky, Sofronov A.I., Nikiforov V.V.). Representations of the people about the world are reflected in the poetic epos - Olonkho, which is attributed to the treasures of world folklore. Since ancient times, there has been a national sport - the Yakut jumps: various types of long jumps on one or two legs.
Other ethnic groups of the Russian North: Aleutorets, Vepsians, Dolgans, Kamchadals, Kets, Kumandins, Selkups, Soyots, Tazs, Telengits, Teleuts, To-Falars, Tubulars, Tuva-Togins, Udegeans, Ulchi, Chelkans, Chu-Vants, Chulym, Evenks, Enets.
