Nganasans
overview
The Nganasan live in Russia's northernmost territory in Taymyr Peninsula at the Northern Sea. The Nganasans live on the Taimyr Peninsula and belong administratively under Taimyr Autonomous District of the Krasnoyarsk region. They call themselves nganassa(n), frequently in the form of ngano nganassan. Avami group prefers the name njaa and Vadejevi group asa. The Nganasans have not developed their identity as one nation. The earlier and dated name Tavgi Samoyeds or Tavgis is spread to other languages with the mediation of Russian language.
The population is between 600-900. 1989 census counted 1278 Nganasan, of whom 83,2% spoke their mother tongue. According to the census of 2002 there were 900 Nganasan in Russia.
Nganasans did not use guns for hunting until 1930 and did not speak the Russian language, which shows they did retain their way of life for a long time as well as preserve the tradition of shamanism.
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