Starożyłowie z Jakucji między tradycją tubylczą a kolonialną

Abstract

After Siberia was conquered by Russia, a lot of new local communities were created to the east of
Ural. Their unique culture was a product of Russian newcomers’ culture and the culture of indigenous
inhabitants of the area they settled in. These communities are called Russian Old Settlers (Starozhily)
of Siberia. This article is focused on one of such groups living in north-eastern part of Yakutia, called
Kolymchane (nowadays also Pokhodchane).
This article is a result of fieldwork conducted by me in Yakutia in 2002–2007. I trace the changes
introduced to the image of Pokhodchane (from the settlement of Pokhodsk) in the last century. It clearly
shows what parts of this image are constituted by tribal and colonial traditions of this group. It seems
like the efforts made by the representatives of starozhily in Siberia are directed to emphasize Russian
tradition, especially Cossack roots, simultaneously to diminish the influence of indigenous peoples.