This book contains 26 essays and two introductions about the indigenous, numerically small peoples of the Russian North, Siberia and the Far East. They number about 200,000 (p. 11) or 300,000 (p.25), depending on which peoples are included. A map shows 40 groups, spread out over more than 60% of the Russian Federation. In Soviet times, 26 were recognized. The Nentsy are the most numerous (about 35,000), while the Oroks number only 109 (p.11). Almost all of the articles were written by a member of the numerically small peoples, and most articles have a photograph of the author. Unfortunately the numerous striking illustrations are uncaptioned.
The first section of the book describes the efforts in the 1990s of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) to influence legislation and to spread information about the numerically small peoples. The successes and failures RAIPON has had make an interesting case study of the clash between the interests of the state, which is legally bound to help the numerically small peoples, and the peoples themselves as they struggle to preserve their way of life and culture. The article "The Sea of Okhotsk: People and Oil--Different Points of View" (pp. 196-210) shows the rights of the peoples freely violated and the environment damaged. Other sections in the book deal with regional issues, the socio-economic situation of the peoples, environmental problems and legal rights.
One of the most interesting questions raised in the book is "to what extent is accustoming indigenous society to modern civilization appropriate?" (p. 88) An oblique answer is given in Larissa Abrutina's article, "Health and Employment in the Arctic. The Indigenous Peoples of Russia's North and Their Access to Health Care" (pp. 164-179) in which it seems clear that in an effort to preserve their lives, the best of modern mobile medical technology should be used to provide the numerically small peoples the free medical care to which they are legally entitled. There is a critical need for change in the current system, in which doctors are based in villages far from nomadic reindeer herders. The life expectancy for Arctic peoples in some regions is 37 years. The suicide rate in Chukotka, for example, was 144.5 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1995 compared to 38 for Russia and 12 for the US. The registered spread of tuberculosis in the Taimyr Autonomous Okrug was 1,731.4 per 100,000 population compared to an average Russian indicator of 172.0 per 100,000 (p. 170). Unemployment rates are very high, especially in areas of the traditional economy. Among the Nanai 42% are unemployed, among the Nganasan 51%, the Sel'kup almost 60%, the Ket 58%, the Oroch 80% and the Ents 87% (p.154). As of January 1, 1999 in the North 27.9% of all housing was equipped with gas, 36.4% with hot water, 27.1% with electric heaters, 54.4% with a water supply, 52.3% with a sewage system, 64.1% with central heating, 48.8% with bathtubs (p. 253).
Considerable space is given to the need to preserve the languages and the ritual cultures of the peoples, to hold folklore festivals, and to revitalize reindeer herding by preserving areas of traditional nature use. All these efforts are hampered to one degree or another by lack of money, trained personnel, and the failure of the state to live up to its legal responsibilities. The state's intentions are spelled out in laws like the two appended to the book, on the rights of the numerically small peoples and on traditional nature management (pp. 268-287). It is chiefly their implementation that has caused the problems the numerically small peoples face. RAIPON continues to insist on their rights, but recognizes that they need special representation in legislatures.
This is an interesting and thought-provoking book.
Ethel Duun
Highgate Road Social Science Research Station
Berkeley, CA