The vast expanse of the Russian Federation, from the Kola Peninsula in the northwest to the Chukotka Peninsula in the northeast and Primorye in the east, has long been inhabited by the indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia, and Far East. The territory our peoples traditionally inhabited makes up more than one-half of the entire territory of the Russian Federation.

Our ancestors were the first to settle these bleak territories with harsh climatic conditions, and the names they gave to many of the geographical areas endure in present-day Russia.

Our total population of about 200,000, from more than 30 ethnic groups, is now united in the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON). Our peoples belong to several language families residing in various Republics, Regions (Krai, Oblasts), Autonomous Regions (Okrugs), and Districts (Raions) in the Federation.

Saami (Lopari) - their population of about 1,899 (those resident on the territory of the Russian Federation) live in compact communes in Murmansk Region.

Khanty (Ostyaks) - 22,551 live in compact communes in the Tyumen and Tomsk Regions, and the Khanty-Mansi, and Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Regions.

Mansi (Voguls) - 8,461 live in compact communes in the Tyumen and Sverdlovsk Regions, and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region.

Nenets (Samoyeds) - 34,645 live in compact communes in the Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, and Tyumen Regions, and in the Nenets, Yamal-Nenets, Khanty-Mansi, and Taimyr (Dolgan-Nenets) Autonomous Regions.

Enets (Yenisei Samoyeds) - 209 live in compact communes in Taimyr (Dolgan-Nenets) Autonomous Region.

Nganasan (Tavgi Samoyeds) - 1,278 live in compact communes in Taimyr (Dolgan-Nenets) Autonomous Region.

Selkup (Ostyak Samoyeds) - 3,612 live in compact communes in Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Region, Krasnoyarsk and Tomsk Regions.

Evenk (Tungus) - 30,163 live in compact communes in the Republics of Sakha (Yakutia),and Buryatia, in the Amursky, Sakhalin, Irkutsk, Tomsk, Chita, Khabarovsk and Primorsky Regions, and the Yamal-Nenets, Khanty-Mansi, Evenkiisky, and Taimyr (Dolgan-Nenets) Autonomous Regions.

Even (Tungus Lamuts) - 17,199 live in compact communes in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Magadan, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk Region, the Chukotka and Koryaksky Autonomous Regions.

Negidal - 650 live in compact communes in Khabarovsk Region. Nanais (Golds): 12,023 live in compact communes in the Khabarovsk and Primorsky Regions.

Ulchi (Olchi) - 3,233 live in compact communes in Khabarovsk Region.

Orok - 200 live in compact communes in Sakhalin Region.

Orochi - 600 live in compact communes in the Khabarovsk and Primorsky Regions.

Udege (Ude) - 2,011 live in compact communes in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Regions.

Aleut (Unangans) - 702 live in compact communes in Kamchatka Region and Koryaksky Autonomous Region.

Eskimos (Inuit) - 1,719 live in compact communes in Chukotka Autonomous Region.

Chukchi - 15,184 live in compact communes in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Magadan Region, the Chukotka and Koryaksky Autonomous Regions.

Koryak - 9,242 live in compact communes in Kamchatka Region, the Koryaksky and Chukotka Autonomous Regions.

Itelmen (Kamchadals) - 2,481 live in compact communes in Kamchatka Region and Koryaksky Autonomous Region.

Kerek - 100 live in compact communes in Chukotka Autonomous Region.

Dolgan - 6,932 live in compact communes in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and Taimyr (Dolgan-Nenets) Autonomous Region.

Tofalar - 731 live in compact communes in Irkutsk Region.

Shor - 16,652 live in compact communes in Kemerovo Region.

Teleut - 3,000 live in compact communes in Kemerovo and Altai Regions.

Tuvinian-Todzhins - 5,250 live in compact communes in the Republic of Tyva.

Ket (Yenisei Ostyaks) - 1,113 live in compact communes in Evenkiisky Autonomous Regions, Turukhansk District, Krasnoyarsk Region, and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region .

Nivkhi (Gilyaks) - 4,673 live in compact communes in Sakhalin and Khabarovsk Regions.

Yukagir (Obuls) - 1,142 live in compact communes in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Magadan Region, and Chukotka Autonomous Region.

Tazy - 300 live in compact communes in Primorsky Region.

Chuvan (Etels) - 1,511 live in compact communes in Magadan Region and Chukotka Autonomous Region.