Zavargok

Zavargok are a people traditionally living in the highlands and forested valleys of the northern region of Varin. The ethnonym Zavargok is used in most languages to designate the group; their own language designates them with a term that translates roughly as the people of the ridges.

Geography and population: The Zavargok are concentrated in three major valleys and surrounding uplands, with smaller settlements in river basins and foothills. Population estimates range from 60,000 to 90,000, with most members living in Varin's northern provinces and a dispersed urban diaspora.

Language: They speak Zavargic, a distinct language with several dialects. Linguists generally classify it as a language isolate or member of a small, poorly attested family, and it remains endangered in many villages. Efforts to document and teach Zavargic have increased in schools and community centers.

Society and culture: Social life is organized around kinship clans and elder councils that advise on land use, rites, and dispute resolution. Traditional crafts include loom weaving, woodcarving, and metalwork; music features polyphonic singing and drum ensembles. Rituals center on seasonal cycles, harvests, and rites of passage.

History and status: The Zavargok trace origins to ancient migrations within Varin and have long interacted with neighboring peoples. During imperial and colonial eras they faced land dispossession and assimilation pressures. In the modern era, Zavargok communities have gained constitutional recognition as a minority and pursue language education and cultural revival programs.

Economy and contemporary issues: The economy blends subsistence farming, livestock herding, and small crafts with growing participation in ecotourism. Land rights, migration to cities, and climate change pose ongoing challenges, while cultural preservation and bilingual education remain priorities for many Zavargok communities.