Nanai

Nanai are an indigenous people of Northeast Asia, traditionally living along the Amur River in areas that are now part of Russia and China. In Russia, they are concentrated in the Far East, chiefly in Khabarovsk and Primorsky Krais, with smaller communities across the border in Heilongjiang Province, China. Their traditional economy centered on river and forest resources, especially fishing, hunting, and gathering, with seasonal movements to follow the river’s bounty.

The Nanai language is a member of the Tungusic language family. It is spoken by many older Nanai, while younger generations in Russia often use Russian and those in China may use Mandarin. The Nanai are a relatively small ethnic group; total numbers are estimated in the low tens of thousands, with the majority living in Russia and a smaller community in China.

Culturally, Nanai society has historically centered on shamanic and animist beliefs, with shamans performing healing, divination, and rites to honor spirits of animals, water, and the forest. The practice of Nanai religion has in some communities incorporated Buddhist influences and other syncretic elements due to contact with neighboring cultures.

History and contemporary status: Russian exploration and the Amur fur trade from the 17th century onward shaped Nanai-Russian relations. In the 20th century, Soviet policies promoted assimilation and the use of Russian. Today, there are ongoing language and cultural preservation efforts, including bilingual education and cultural heritage initiatives, within the framework of minority protections for Indigenous peoples in Russia and China.