Negidals
Negidals (Russian: негидальцы; Negidal: элькан бэйэнин, elkan bayenin, "local people")[3] are a people in the Khabarovsk Krai in Russia, who live along the Amgun River[3] and Amur River.
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
 Russia | 513[1] |
 Ukraine | 52[2] |
| Languages | |
| Negidal language | |
| Religion | |
| Shamanism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Nanais, Ulchs | |
| History of the Priamurye region |
|---|
| also including Heilongjiang, Amur Oblast and southern part of Khabarovsk Krai |
|
The ethnonym "Negidal" is a Russification of the Ewenki term ngegida, which means "coastal people".
Language
The Negidal language belongs to the Tungusic language family and is closely related to the Evenk language.[3]
Origin
The Negidals are Evenks by origin, who settled along the Amgun and interbred with the Nivkhs, Nanais and Ulchs.[3]
Religion
They are officially considered Orthodox Christians but preserved their own animistic beliefs and shamanism.[3]
Population
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.[4]
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 another language.[2]
References
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