Negidals
![]() | show This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in Ukrainian. (August 2011) Click [show] for important translation instructions. |
Regions with significant populations | |
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![]() | 513[1] |
![]() | 52[2] |
Languages | |
Negidal language | |
Religion | |
Shamanism | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Nanais, Ulchs |
History of the Priamurye region |
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also including Heilongjiang, Amur Oblast and southern part of Khabarovsk Krai |
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Negidals (Russian: негидальцы; Negidal: элькан бэйэнин, elkan bayenin, "local people")[3] are a people in the Khabarovsk Krai in Russia, who live along the Amgun River[3] and Amur River.
The ethnonym "Negidal" is a Russification of the Ewenki term ngegida, which means "coastal people".
Language[]
The Negidal language belongs to the Tungusic language family and is closely related to the Evenk language.[3]
Origin[]
The Negidals are Evenks by origin, who settled along the Amgun and interbred with the Nivkhs, Nanais and Ulchs.[3]
Religion[]
They are officially considered Orthodox Christians but preserved their own animistic beliefs and shamanism.[3]
Population[]
According to the 2002 census, there were 567 Negidals in Russia, 147 of which still spoke the Negidal language. According to the 2010 census, there were 513 Negidals in Russia, 75 of which still spoke the Negidal language.[4]
52 Negidals live in Ukraine. Of these, 31 declared Negidal as their native language, 11 are Russian-speaking and for 9 the mother tongue is another language.[2]
References[]
- Asian ethnic group stubs
- Ethnic groups in Russia
- Tungusic peoples
- Khabarovsk Krai
- Indigenous peoples of North Asia
- Indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East