Problems in protecting and encouraging the development of Manchu-Tungus languages in the Khabarovsk krai

Abstract

Residents of the Khabarovsky krai are representatives of 28 ethnic groups out of 40 indigenous peoples of Siberia, the North and the Russian Far East. Of their total population of about 24 thousand, the Evenki, Even, Orochi, Negidal, Udege, Nanai, and Ulchi comprise approximately 23 thousand. Thus, the Khabarovsky krai is the ancestral land of ethnic groups representing the northern and southern branches of the Manchu-Tungus group with the Udege, Orochi, and Negidal total population in the range of 400 to 600. Protection of native languages of indigenous peoples in the Khabarovsky krai as well as of other representatives of national minorities is an equivalent of keeping their national identity intact. Consigning to oblivion of a native language is fraught with the loss of individuality for a people. Realizing that indigenous peoples as representatives of the ancient civilization and unique authentic culture in the Khabarovsky krai are threaten with disappearance without their native languages, commencing in 2000 the Khabarovsky krai Government through its Ministry of Natural Resources has been tackling this issue involving these very ethnic groups: students, teachers, pedagogic teams, progressive intelligentsia, and the public. Projects on recovery of cultural and language heritage of endangered ethnic groups are implemented in the following directions:1. Carrying out of the language-support policy in the sphere of education of indigenous peoples of the North in the region. Efforts are taken to encourage indigenous peoples to learn their native language. 2. Local personnel, teachers of the native language included, is still a challenge in national communities. 3. Publication of text-books, teaching and methodology aids, and books in fiction. 4. Setting up of the environment encouraging use of a native language among members of the local communities of indigenous people involving families, local intelligentsia, and the public with the objective to make it a means of communication. 5. Implementation of projects aimed at conservation of native languages. 6. Broadening of information on endangered languages, their relationship with other languages, recognition of what different peoples have in common with respect to their cultural heritage. Native languages of all peoples and especially endangered languages are of crucial importance in preserving diverse culture of different nations.