Чалканду, Шалканду Chalkandu, Shalkandu | |
|---|---|
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Russia | 1,181[1] |
| Languages | |
| Northern Altai (Chelkan),Altai,Russian | |
| Religion | |
| Russian Orthodox,Burkhanism,shamanism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Khakas,Kumandins,Shors,Teleuts,Siberian Tatars | |
TheChelkans (native name—Chalkandu, Shalkandu) are a small group ofTurkicIndigenous people of Siberia. They speak theNorthern Altai Chelkan language.[2] Those residing inAltai Republic are sometimes grouped together with theAltai ethnic group and those inKemerovo Oblast are grouped with theShors; however, they are recognized as a separate ethnic group within the list ofIndigenous small-numbered peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East by ethnographers and the Resolution of the Government of theRussian Federation No. 255 dated March 24, 2000, andRussian Census (2002). But, during the2010 census, they were again "united" with the Altaians. According to the 2010 census, there were 1,181 Chelkans in Russia.
The Chelkans emerged from the mixing of Turkic clans withKet,Samoyed, and othernative Siberian groups. This was a process that began as early as the period when theYenisei Kygryz dominated the region. The Mongols then ruled over the region and people from the 13th to 18th centuries. TheDzungars then briefly controlled the area until the Chelkans (along with otherAltaians) submitted to the Russians.[3]
The Chelkans speak theChelkan language sometimes classified as adialect of Northern Altai. The language was counted as separate in the2002 Russian Census but not the2010 census which counted 2000 speakers, a writing system was developed in 2014.[4][5]
The Chelkans originally mainly hunted local animals, who were vital to their subsistence lifestyle.[3] Around the 19th century, the Chelkans took upcedar nut picking as an additional economic activity.[6]
The Chelkans traditional dwellings included polygonal yurts made out of bark or log and topped with a conic bark roof. Other types of dwellings also included conic yurts made out of bark or perches.[3]
Traditional Chelkan dress included short breeches, linen shirts, and single-breasted robes.[3]
Most modern Chelkans are Orthodox Christian. However,Burkhanism and shamanism is also found among the Chelkans.[3]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) | This article about an ethnic group in Asia is astub. You can help Wikipedia byadding missing information. |
 | This article about theAltai Republic is astub. You can help Wikipedia byadding missing information. |