Negidals

Negidals

Regions with significant populations
Russia	513[1]
Ukraine	52[2]
Languages
Negidal language
Religion
shamanism
Related ethnic groups
Nivkhs, Nanais, and Ulchs

Negidals (негидальцы in Russian; self designation: элькан бэйэнин, or elkan bayenin meaning "local people." The ethnonym Negidal is a Russification of the Ewenki term ngegida, which means "coastal people.") are a people in the Khabarovsk Krai in Russia, who live along the Amgun River and Amur River. Their language belongs to the Tungusic language family and is very close to the Evenk language. The Negidals are Evenks by origin, who settled along the Amgun and interbred with the Nivkhs, Nanais, and Ulchs. They are officially considered Orthodox Christians, but preserved their own animistic beliefs and shamanism. According to the 2002 census, there were 567 Negidals in Russia, 147 of which still spoke the Negidal language. According to the 2010 census there were 513 Negidals in Russia, 75 of which still spoke the Negidal language.

52 Negidals live in Ukraine. Of these, 31 declared Negidal as their native language, 11 are Russian speaking and for 9 the mother tongue is some other language.^[2]

References

Ethnic groups in Russia
Titular Nationalities	Adyghe Altay Bashkirs Balkars Belarusians Buryats Chechens Chuvash Cherkess Ingush Kabardins Kalmyks Karachays Karelians Khakas Komi Mordvins Mokshas Ossetians Mari Russians Tatars Tuvans Udmurts Ukrainians Yakuts
Indigenous peoples	Far North Ainus Aleuts Alyutors Chukchis Chuvans Dolgans Enets Itelmens Kereks Koryaks Nenets Nganasans Sami Siberian Yupik Naukan Sirenik Veps Yukaghir Far East Nanai Negidals Nivkh Oroch Orok Tazs Udege Ulchs Siberia Central Chulyms Evenks Evens Kets Khanty Mansi Selkups Teleuts Southern Chelkans Kumandins Shors Soyots Telengits Tofalars Tubalar Tozhu Tuvans Dagestan Aghuls Avars Azerbaijanis Dargins Kumyks Laks Lezgins Nogais Rutuls Tabasarans Tats Tsakhurs others Other Abazins Besermyan Izhorians Jews Nagaybaks Shapsugs