Negidals

The Negidals are an indigenous people inhabiting the lower Amgun River basin in Khabarovsk Krai, Russia. They are one of the smallest indigenous groups in the Russian Far East, and their language, also called Negidal, belongs to the Tungusic language family.

Historically, the Negidals were semi-nomadic hunters, fishers, and trappers, relying heavily on the Amgun River and its surrounding forests for their subsistence. Their traditional culture shares similarities with other Tungusic peoples of the region, including the Evenks and Nanais, particularly in terms of shamanism, social organization, and material culture. Reindeer herding, while present, was not as central to their economy as it was for some other Tungusic groups.

The Negidals faced significant changes and challenges under Soviet rule, including collectivization, forced sedentarization, and the suppression of traditional religious practices. The Negidal language and culture have been threatened by assimilation and the dominance of Russian language and culture. Efforts are underway to preserve and revitalize the Negidal language and cultural heritage, including language education programs and cultural preservation initiatives. The population of Negidals is small, and the number of native speakers of the Negidal language is even smaller, making them a highly vulnerable group. The Negidals are officially recognized as one of the Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation, which entitles them to certain rights and protections.