Telengit
Encyclopedia
Telengits or Telengut are a Turkic people
people primarily found in Altai Republic
, Russia
. Telengits mainly live in a territory of Kosh-Agach District of the Altai Republic
. They are part of a larger cultural group of the Southern Altaians. These other groups include: Altai, Telengut and Tolos.
in the western Altai, and call themselves Chui-kizhi (Chuya people). Sometimes they are even living intermixed with other groups that live in the area around the river. With this intermixing, it is often difficult to establish boundaries and distinguish the individual groups. There are no sharp distinctions among the different subgroups of the Altaians, identified as they are by the territory they occupy. This inevitably caused many problems, including how to ethnically classify themselves. It was the political leaders of the Ulagan district who first advocated that the Telengits be recognized as a separate indigenous group within Russia
n law. Before this point, there was often confusion because the Telengits were classified under the Altaians. Even after the Telengits were classified as a separate group, there was still discrepancies as to what sub-groups would be included under the ethnic group of the Telengits.
In 2000, Telengits were listed as part of “Small Numbered Indigenous Peoples of the
Russian Federation on the Russian and Soviet censuses.
In 2002, they were considered their own category on the censuses. In this year there were 2,398 Telengits living in the territory of the republic. However, this number may be wrong because of the context of the census questions, many Telengits, 8,000 or 9,000 would consider themselves Altaians and not Telengits.
In 2004, the NGO ‘Development of the Telengit People’ was established. This group is an active part in the local political area in regard to issues of Telengit land rights.
that is to be considered sacred. The Telengits say that if an Altaian leaves the Altai, he or she will become ill and die. This is not because of any longing or emotional distress, but because of physical separation. After they have lived on the land they become one with it. That is why it is so severe when someone is separated from their homeland.
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
people primarily found in Altai Republic
Altai Republic
Altai Republic is a federal subject of Russia . Its capital is the town of Gorno-Altaysk. The area of the republic is . Population: -Geography:...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Telengits mainly live in a territory of Kosh-Agach District of the Altai Republic
Altai Republic
Altai Republic is a federal subject of Russia . Its capital is the town of Gorno-Altaysk. The area of the republic is . Population: -Geography:...
. They are part of a larger cultural group of the Southern Altaians. These other groups include: Altai, Telengut and Tolos.
Background
Since there are many groups that live in the Altai region, it is often difficult to distinguish between the different groups. The territorial groupings are somewhat fluid. Telengits (or Telengut) live along the Chuya RiverChuya River
The Chuya River is a river in the Altai Republic in Russia, a right tributary of the Katun River . The Chuya is 320 km long, the area of its drainage basin is 11,200 km². The river freezes up in October - early November and breaks up in late April....
in the western Altai, and call themselves Chui-kizhi (Chuya people). Sometimes they are even living intermixed with other groups that live in the area around the river. With this intermixing, it is often difficult to establish boundaries and distinguish the individual groups. There are no sharp distinctions among the different subgroups of the Altaians, identified as they are by the territory they occupy. This inevitably caused many problems, including how to ethnically classify themselves. It was the political leaders of the Ulagan district who first advocated that the Telengits be recognized as a separate indigenous group within Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n law. Before this point, there was often confusion because the Telengits were classified under the Altaians. Even after the Telengits were classified as a separate group, there was still discrepancies as to what sub-groups would be included under the ethnic group of the Telengits.
In 2000, Telengits were listed as part of “Small Numbered Indigenous Peoples of the
Russian Federation on the Russian and Soviet censuses.
In 2002, they were considered their own category on the censuses. In this year there were 2,398 Telengits living in the territory of the republic. However, this number may be wrong because of the context of the census questions, many Telengits, 8,000 or 9,000 would consider themselves Altaians and not Telengits.
In 2004, the NGO ‘Development of the Telengit People’ was established. This group is an active part in the local political area in regard to issues of Telengit land rights.
Connection to the land
The Altaians and the Telengits feel a connection to the land that they live on. They are supposed to worship their special homelandHomeland
A homeland is the concept of the place to which an ethnic group holds a long history and a deep cultural association with —the country in which a particular national identity began. As a common noun, it simply connotes the country of one's origin...
that is to be considered sacred. The Telengits say that if an Altaian leaves the Altai, he or she will become ill and die. This is not because of any longing or emotional distress, but because of physical separation. After they have lived on the land they become one with it. That is why it is so severe when someone is separated from their homeland.
See also
- Altay languageAltay languageAltay is a language of the Turkic group of languages. It is an official language of Altai Republic, Russia. The language was called Oyrot prior to 1948. There were ca...
- Altayans
- TeleutsTeleutsTeleuts are a Turkic people people living in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia. According to the 2002 census, there were 2650 Teleuts in Russia. Their language is classified as a southern dialect within the group of dialects which is called Altay language....
(is probably another possible name of this people) - Turkic peoplesTurkic peoplesThe Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...