Dolgan

The Dolgan are a Turkic-speaking Indigenous people of Siberia, primarily inhabiting the Arctic regions of Russia in the Taymyt Peninsula and parts of Krasnoyarsk Krai, including the Taymyr Autonomous Okrug. They are closely related to the Sakha (Yakut) people and are regarded as a distinct ethnolinguistic group within the Siberian Turkic family. The Dolgan language belongs to the Siberian branch of Turkic, has two main dialects (North Dolgan and South Dolgan), and is written with a Cyrillic-based script influenced by Yakut and Russian conventions.

Traditionally, Dolgan society was semi-nomadic, with livelihoods centered on animal husbandry, hunting, and fishing in tundra and taiga environments. They adapted to Arctic coastlines, river valleys, and permafrost zones, and maintained seasonal migrations and settlements. The Dolgan have long interacted with neighboring groups, especially the Yakuts, Evenks, and Nganasans, sharing customs and linguistic elements. Today, many Dolgan are bilingual in Russian, and language vitality varies by community. They are officially recognized as one of Russia’s Indigenous peoples.

Religiously, most Dolgan people today identify as Russian Orthodox, reflecting historical contact with the Russian state and church, though some communities retain shamanistic beliefs and rituals. Dolgan culture includes distinctive music, folklore, dress, and crafts, such as embroidery and metalwork. The population remains relatively small, concentrated in northern Krasnoyarsk Krai and the Taymyr region, with ongoing efforts to preserve language and heritage through education and cultural programs.