Itelmens

The Itelmens are an indigenous ethnic group of Paläosibirier who settled mainly in the area of ​​Kamchatka.

The name of this ethnic group " live here ", it includes 16,209 people (1 January 2002). They settled originally from the southern tip (Cape Lopatka ) and the east coast of Kamchatka, north to the river Tigil and west to the Uka. The old Itelmens settlements were along the rivers of Kamchatka ( Uykoal '), Jelowka ( Kooch ), Bolshaya, Bystraja, Awatscha and the coasts of the Awatscha Bay (near Petropavlovsk -Kamchatsky ). The living space of Itelmens one describes as Ostrog which existed at the beginning of a family and became larger over time. The type of dwelling was dependent on the seasons and differed in winter and summer homes. The winter homes were called Ambaren and consisted of half built into the earth huts. Were spent in the period from early November to early April. The summer homes, however, were built on stilts and were referred to as Balagane. Due to their height and good ventilation of these buildings were used as well as provisions store.

In summer, the life of Itelmens played out on and around the water. They moved away in tree trunk -like canoes, made ​​of a poplar trunk. They fished with woven from nettles nets, harpooned or set traps on. Some of the fish was dried, stored in another special holes. The lack of salt allowed only a minimal inventory. The hunt for their fur and meat production also had great economic importance. Hunted species were fox, sable and snow sheep; on the coast sea lion, harbor seal and sea otters.

The clothes of the Itelmens is made of Zobelfellen, fox skins, snow - Bock or dog fur. Georg Wilhelm Steller, who traveled Kamchatka in the first half of the 18th century, wrote: "The most beautiful Kukhlyankas ( anoraks ) are decorated on the collar, draped sleeves and hem with dog fur, which is kaftan ( short reindeer skin coverall ) with hundreds of red painted sealskin tassels, which are swinging around with every movement. "

The Itelmens used plenty of fish in the meal, preferably baked ( chuprik ), and fish cutlets ( tael'no ), the rungs of Shelamannik ( Kamchatka Meadowsweet ), Morkovnik ate ( Filipendium maxim ) and Puchka ( Heracleum dulce ), the latter before burning properties accepts. Against scurvy cedar cones and dried salmon caviar were taken with some tea. Your food has been improved with seal fat in flavor. The Itelmens women had the custom of wearing wigs. Who had the biggest and most beautiful wigs, was considered the most. Therefore, they wore their own hair very short.

The situation of Itelmens is today: The fish still plays a role for the income. The conversion of ( hunting) tourists helps. Basically, life is rather poor, government support, there is little or not at all.

The dying itelmenische language forms the Kamchadal branch of tschuktscho - Kamchadal languages. However, to prevent extinction of the traditional language, one turns again today to old customs and traditions. There is a return instead to their original roots of itelmenischen culture.

Politically, the Itelmens the group of indigenous peoples of the Russian North, Siberia and the Russian Far East are assigned that are organized under the umbrella organization RAIPON. Its task is to represent the rights and interests of indigenous peoples at the international level. So far, only modest success has been achieved, which is why ethnic autonomy and an ecologically intact habitat are by no means assured. The unfettered use of the country as a food and income source for the Itelmens of great importance, as prevail on the Kamchatka Peninsula, the highest cost of living in Russia.

The regional association of Itelmens Kamchatka is called " Tchsanom " and advocates, especially for the land rights of indigenous people.