April 23
By Daniel Clark
The policy of comprehensive support for the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North in Kamchatka was formed back in the Soviet period. Development of the Koryak Autonomous Okrug, Bystrinsky district and Aleutian district of the region, where representatives of small-number ethnic groups also lived, was a priority for regional authorities. Economy, culture, education and health care were developing dynamically, creating great opportunities for personal development, education and participation in public and political life for talented individuals. Best people, leaders of production were elected as deputies to local and regional councils, supreme soviets of USSR and RSFSR and delegates to congresses of CPSU and Komsomol. Talented artists and writers had the opportunity to publish their works and participate in exhibitions and tours in USSR and abroad.For example, it was at that time that the creative path of the outstanding Koryak writer and poet, Vladimir Koyanto (Kosygin) and the world-famous Koryak National Dance Ensemble “Mango”, began.
A vivid example of the life of a natives of Koryak District is the biography of statesman and public figure Valentina Bronevich. Born in the village of Sopochnoe in Koryak, she was raised on the best examples of folk art and the traditions of Kamchatka. She graduated from Irkutsk State University’s Law Faculty and made a brilliant career in her home district. At age 33, she became chairman of the Koryak Executive Committee, and in that position, she did much for the development of her territory. In new Russia, she served as chairman of the Kamchatkan Election Commission. In 1996, she won an election to become governor of Koryk and entered the Federation Council. Later, she held positions as deputy chair of the government of Kamchakta Territory and commissioner for human rights in Kamchaka.During the Russian presidential election in 2024, she was a confidante of Vladimir Putin.
During the formation of new Russia in the 1990s, representatives of districts, including KMNS, played a significant role in the changes that occurred in Kamchatka. The first governor of the region, Vladimir Biryukov, had a team of people with extensive professional and life experience who had worked in the district. Yenne Mandyatova, chair of one of the committees and deputy from the Bystrinsky District, worked actively in the Regional Council.
The administration of the newly formed constituent entity of the Federation, Kamchatka Krai, abandoned bright slogans and grand promises in its approach to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) from the very beginning, focusing on one thing – the creation of relevant regional legislation. It is the constantly evolving legal framework (this is a joint effort of officials and legislators) that allows them to address issues of socioeconomic development in the region, organize northern deliveries, take into account community interests, maintain cultural traditions and support the language.
Tatyana Romanova, Chairperson of the Permanent Committee on Social Affairs of the Legislative Assembly of Kamchatka, a People’s Artist of Russia who worked as a soloist with the Mango Ensemble for over 20 years (from 1969 to 1997), has done a great deal of work in this area. There is not a single northern village that she has not visited multiple times.
One of the examples of careful preservation of folk northern traditions is the Kamchatka traditional dog sledding race “Beringia”, which has been held since 1990 and began this year. When the participants of the competition, having covered a distance of 916 kilometers, reached the village of Ossora, the winners were determined in the nomination “For loyalty to the traditions of the North”, named in honor of Alexei Spiridonovich Kolegov, a famous Karaganda reindeer herder and kayur, honored worker of agriculture of the RSFSR, who became the champion of Beringia at the age of 70.
Summing up the results of Beringia 2024, Governor of the Kamchatka Territory Vladimir Solodov noted: “We continue to work systematically to promote and develop the Beringia festival and its main event – the traditional Kamchatka dog sled race. In my opinion, we are confidently moving forward and achieving new results.” He stressed that the main goal is to attract new participants, kennels and young people to the breeding of sled dogs. He considers the race to be a successful example of popularizing a traditional lifestyle, as it combines the kennel’s activities for the development of dog sled racing with participation in sports events and the creation of tourist products, which is manifested in the growing interest and participation of new people.
During the award ceremony, the winner of Beringia 2024, Alexey Popov, spoke about the importance of attracting kayakers from the northern regions of Kamchatka to participate in competitions. He said: “Personally, I want more and more people to take part in the race every year. We pass through villages such as Kovran and Palana, and these villages are important for Beringia because we want to see representatives of different ethnic groups among the participants. Every year the race gets better, the organization is more professional, and the boats are better prepared. I want to thank the organizers for all their hard work, which most people don’t even know about.”
Another example of this is the annual children’s sledge race “Dulin”, which takes place in April in the village of Anawgaya. This event has been held for 26 years and is popular among both locals and tourists. The youngest participant of the race was only four years old. “Dyulin” for the Even village is a traditional and beloved event that has been held every spring since 1999. It is organized by the ethnographic and cultural center “Manedek”. Young residents of Anavar take part in the competitions, and this year the children’s single dog sledding races were dedicated to the memory of Gennady Daineko, a resident of Anavar, who played an important role in organizing these competitions. The competition is timed to coincide with the Year of the Family in Russia, as well as the celebration of the preservation of the traditions of the indigenous peoples of Kamchatka.
Roman Litvinov, deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Kamchatka Territory, welcomed the participants, saying: “This is a wonderful holiday dedicated to preserving the cultural traditions of our indigenous peoples.”
“Manedek” is an Even camp, where traditional aboriginal dwellings and household items are located. National holidays, celebrations and competitions in traditional sports are held here. Various exhibitions are held for tourists, introducing the lifestyle of the indigenous inhabitants of Kamchatka and their traditional farming methods. Guests of the camp can also taste dishes of national cuisine.
The Kamchatka Folk Art Center, which was founded in 1957, is doing a lot of work. It is here that the priceless cultural heritage of the Koryaks, Itelmen, Aleut and Kamchatka Evenks, as well as the Kamchatka Chukchi, is literally collected. Among the most ambitious projects are the folklore festival “Golden Springs”; the regional nomadic festival of traditional crafts and folk art of the indigenous peoples of the north “Masters of the land of Uykoal”; the Itelmen ritual festival “Alkhalalai”.; the regional festival-competition of fairy tales of the indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East living in the Kamchatka Territory, “Murginlimnil”; and the regional festival of national cultures, peoples and ethnic groups in Kamchatka “In a united family”.
Kamchatka has always been and continues to be called the territory of friendship of peoples. The uniqueness of the region lies in the fact that in Soviet times able-bodied people came here on contracts. Many returned after their contracts expired, but many stayed and found a second home here. Representatives of more than a hundred nationalities live in Kamchatka in the world, including representatives of all fifteen former republics of the Soviet Union. There have never been interethnic conflicts here, and there is confidence that they will never happen. The harsh climate here contributes to the development of a sense of community, mutual support and trust in others, as exemplified by the indigenous peoples of the north. Nikolay VENIAMINOV, a journalist.