Transformations of coastal arctic communities in the russian Far East: facts, thoughts and reflections

Abstract

The article presents the results based on the data of the sociological studies undergone in 2018-2019 with the help of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research in the frames of the larger project “Transformations of socio-cultural image of indigenous people of the Arctic coast of Yakutia in the conditions of modernization: experience of interdisciplinary research”. It depicts the socio-economic environment that indigenous population of remote Coastal territories of Russian Eastern Arctic is bound to in their everyday life. The sociological survey was conducted in four settlements situated at the Arctic shore of Yakutia. The conclusions are made concerning the influence of modernization on the lifestyle of indigenous population (mostly Evens and Evenks) through different periods of the history (Preindustrial, Industrial, Postmodern). There was done an attempt to foresee the future development of Coastal Arctic as the tendency based on past and contemporary situation. Historic and contemporary data showed that modernization causing the loss of some elements of traditional lifestyle did not necessarily lead to the extinction of ethnic culture. The strong factor of cultural sustainability is environmental. Arctic indigenous people are tied to the place of birth. Arctic environment ensures continuality of traditional values.