kET

Ket refers chiefly to the Ket people, an indigenous group of central Siberia, and to their language, also called Ket. The Ket live along the Yenisei River in what is now Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. They are a small ethnic community with a long history of fishing, hunting, and foraging. In contemporary times many Ket people live in contact with Russian society and speak Russian as their primary language, while Ket remains spoken by some community members and is the focus of preservation efforts.

The Ket language is a Yeniseian language and one of the few surviving members of that family. It is considered endangered, with fluent speakers declining in number as younger generations adopt Russian or other languages. Linguists have documented Ket and studied its structure, contributing to broader discussions in historical linguistics. Ket has also played a notable role in the Dene–Yeniseian hypothesis, which proposes a historical link between Yeniseian languages and the Na-Dene languages of North America.

Culturally, Ket identity is tied to traditional practices, oral literature, and knowledge systems related to the Yenisei environment. Contemporary Ket communities face challenges common to many small indigenous groups, including language endangerment, economic pressures, and pressures from broader society. Efforts in language documentation, revitalization programs, and cultural preservation seek to support Ket heritage and intergenerational transmission of language and culture.