Samoyedic peoples

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Geographical distribution of Samoyedic-speaking peoples in the 17th and 20th centuries

The Samoyedic peoples (also Samodeic peoples)[1] are those peoples that speak Samoyedic languages, which are part of the Uralic family. They are a linguistic grouping, not an ethnic or cultural one. The name derives from the obsolete term Samoyed used in Russia for some indigenous peoples of Siberia.[2][3]

Peoples[edit]

Existing Peoples

People Group Language Numbers[4] Most important territory Other traditional territories
Nenets Northern Samoyeds Nenets language 45,000 Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Enets Northern Samoyeds Enets language 200 Krasnoyarsk Krai
Nganasans Northern Samoyeds Nganasan language 900 Krasnoyarsk Krai
Selkups Southern Samoyeds Selkup language 3,600 Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Tomsk Oblast

Extinct Peoples[5]

The largest of the Samoyedic peoples are the Nenets, who mainly live in two autonomous districts of Russia: Yamalo-Nenetsia and Nenetsia. Part of the Nenets and most of the Enets and Nganasans used to live in Taymyria autonomous district (formerly known as Dolgano-Nenetsia), but today this area is a territory with special status within Krasnoyarsk Krai. Most of the Selkups live in Yamalo-Nenetsia, but there is also significant population in Tomsk Oblast.

Gallery[edit]

References and notes[edit]

  1. ^ Some ethnologists use the term 'Samodeic people' instead 'Samoyedic', see Balzer, Marjorie (1999). The Tenacity of Ethnicity. Princeton University Press. p. 241. ISBN 978-0-691-00673-4. 
  2. ^ [T]he term Samoyedic is sometimes considered derogatory in Balzer, Marjorie (1999). The Tenacity of Ethnicity. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-00673-4. 
  3. ^ "Samoyeds" had no derogatory meaning and represents a modification of the expression same-edne in Arctic Institute of North America (1961). Anthropology of the North: Translations from Russian Sources. University of Toronto Press. p. 219. 
  4. ^ Demoskop Weekly No 543-544
  5. ^ Unesco Red Book on Endangered Languages