Native Peoples of the Russian Far North

This report explores the history and current situation for the native peoples of Russia's Far North: the vast territory stretching from the White Sea along the Arctic Ocean coast to the Bering Strait and south to the island of Sakhalin - 45% of the whole territory of the former USSR.

Northern Minorities (the official term used to encompass around 26 peoples that live in Siberia, the Far North and Far East Asiatic Russia and partly in European Russia) live in a state of ethnic catastrophe.

The policy of a totalitarian state that had complete control over their lives for 70 years has left the peoples of this region extremely vulnerable - made all the more acute by their small numbers and cultural characteristics.

This book covers all 26 Northern Minorities and explores their individual history, problems and characteristics.

It explains the history of Russia's native population and details the current situation, making specific recommendations for positive change.