korlaks

Korlaks were a historical population group living in what is now Siberia and the Russian Far East. They were primarily inhabiting the lower Amur River region and surrounding areas along the coast of the East Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk.

Korlaks were traditionally semi-nomadic hunters and gatherers. Their diet consisted mainly of fish, seafood, and plants, supplemented by small game and occasionally larger prey. They were skilled woodworkers, using cedar, birch, and other local woods to craft a variety of items, including canoes, spears, harpoons, and wooden masks.

Interactions with Russian colonizers and other neighboring groups led to significant impact on Korlak culture, language, and traditions. By the mid-19th century, the Korlak population had dwindled due to the spread of diseases such as smallpox and measles from European colonizers. Further decline occurred as a result of administrative reorganization and relocation programs aimed at assimilating indigenous populations into the broader Russian Empire.

Today, the term Korlak is often associated with residents of the lower Amur and surrounding regions with some degree of indigenous heritage. However, their distinct cultural identity and widespread adoptation to modern society has led many aspects of their original identity to become assimilated into broader regional traditions.