Taymyr Reindeer Herding as a Branch of the Economy and a Fundamental Social Identification Practice for Indigenous Peoples of the Siberian Arctic

There are two factors affecting the way that Nenets and Dolgan people of Taymyr define their regional identity: 1) their traditional trade (reindeer herding); 2) ethnic art-making where the reindeer acts as an image and a symbol of ethnic traditions, touchstones, and values found among the indigenous peoples of Taymyr. Field research was conducted in Taymyr settlements (such as Nosok, Karaul, and Khatanga) from 2010 to 2014. The researchers interviewed Nenets and Dolgan people who belong to non-governmental organizations representing Taymyr indigenous peoples, run businesses or work in government agencies, schools, and other organizations implementing cultural policies. Indigenous peoples have very low economic and social activity. The Dolgans also have a very poor standard of living due to lack of reindeer. The Post-Soviet era has seen an income gap growing between the Dolgans and the Nenets and unequal economic groups being formed. Reviving reindeer herding is essential. Nenets and Dolgan reindeer herding is an economically inefficient subsidized branch of agriculture, but its role is symbolic rather than economic. Nenets and Dolgan reindeer herding is an ethnicity-forming and ethnicity-sustaining factor. Today’s reindustrialization of Taymyr may end up exterminating its indigenous peoples’ unique economic, environmental, and cultural practices. Taymyr’s political establishment must pay due attention to the threat of ruining these unique practices. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s5p22

Ethnocultural Dynamics of the Indigenous Peoples of Yenisei Siberia in Research Works of 2010s‑2020s

В статье представлены результаты аналитической работы, в ходе которой были изучены исследования отечественных и зарубежных авторов, посвященные различным аспектам этнокультурной динамики коренных народов. Особое внимание было уделено публикациям, раскрывающим особенности этнокультурной динамики коренных народов Енисейской Сибири, проживающих на территории Республики Тыва, Республики Хакасия, Красноярского края. В результате было обнаружено, что в центре интересов научного сообщества находятся современные проблемы коренных народов, такие как игнорирование их прав, утрата традиционных форм хозяйствования и элементов традиционной культуры, в частности языка и менталитета, проблемы со здоровьем и образованием. На основе обзора статей, опубликованных в период с 2011 по 2021 гг., сделаны выводы о процессах, определяющих специфику этнокультурной динамики народов, проживающих на территории Енисейской СибириThe article presents the results of analytical work, during which works by domestic and foreign authors devoted to various aspects of the ethnocultural dynamics of indigenous peoples were studied. Particular attention was paid to publications that reveal the peculiarities of the ethnocultural dynamics of the indigenous peoples of Yenisei Siberia – the indigenous peoples living in the territory of the Republic of Tyva, the Republic of Khakassia, and the Krasnoyarsk Krai. As a result, it was found that the scientific community focuses on modern problems of indigenous peoples, such as ignoring their rights, losing traditional forms of management and elements of traditional culture, in particular, language and mentality, health and education problems. Based on the review of articles published in the period between 2011 and 2021 we make conclusions on the processes that determine the specifics of the ethnocultural dynamics of the peoples living on the territory of Yenisei Siberi