Khakas

Khakas
Group	Khakas
Native name	Хакастар
Population	Approx. 80,000
Region1	Russia
Pop1	72,959 (2021 census)
Region2	Khakassia
Pop2	57,019 (2021 census)
Languages	Khakas language, Russian language
Religions	Tengrism, Russian Orthodoxy, Shamanism
Related	Other Turkic peoples like the Siberian Tatars, Shors, Tuvans, and Altai people

Khakas. The Khakas are a Turkic ethnic group indigenous to southern Siberia, primarily residing in the Republic of Khakassia within the Russian Federation. Their history is deeply intertwined with the ancient Yenisei Kyrgyz state and later periods under the Mongol Empire and Russian Empire. Traditional Khakas culture is characterized by shamanism, epic poetry, and a pastoral nomadic heritage, though modern life has been significantly shaped by Soviet policies and integration into the Russian economy.

Etymology and history

The ethnonym "Khakas" was adopted in the early Soviet period to collectively describe several Turkic-speaking groups, including the Kacha, Kyzyl, and Sagay, who trace their origins to the medieval Yenisei Kyrgyz Kaganate. These tribes were historically recorded by Tang dynasty Chinese sources and later came under the dominion of the Mongol Empire following the campaigns of Jochi. After the dissolution of the Golden Horde, the region experienced fragmentation until its incorporation into the Russian Empire in the 18th century, notably through the construction of forts like Abakan and Minusinsk. The October Revolution and subsequent formation of the Khakas Autonomous Oblast within the RSFSR marked a pivotal modern political development.

Language

The Khakas language belongs to the Siberian Turkic branch of the Turkic languages and is closely related to neighboring tongues like Shor and the Fuyu Kyrgyz language. It uses a Cyrillic script adapted during the Soviet language policy reforms, which supplanted an earlier Latin alphabet and the historic Old Turkic script. While Russian language is dominant in public life, preservation efforts are led by institutions such as the Khakas Research Institute of Language, Literature and History, focusing on educational materials and documenting oral traditions like the Alyptyğ Nymakh epic cycle.

Culture

Traditional Khakas culture is rooted in Tengrism and shamanism, with rituals often performed at sacred ovaa sites and involving the topshur musical instrument. The heroic epic Altyn-Aryg, performed by kai-chi narrators, is a cornerstone of their intangible heritage. Other significant cultural elements include the tag taikh horse sport, intricate felt appliqué art, and the annual Tun Payram spring festival. Notable cultural figures include the storyteller Stepanida Sakhrova and the composer Alexander Knyazev, while the modern Sayany Khakassia ensemble promotes folk music.

Demographics

According to the 2021 Russian census, there are approximately 72,959 Khakas people in Russia, with about 57,019 concentrated in their titular Republic of Khakassia. Significant communities also reside in adjacent Krasnoyarsk Krai and Tyva Republic, as well as in major urban centers like Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The demographic structure has been influenced by historical migrations of Russians, Volga Germans, and other groups during periods like the Stolypin reform and Soviet industrialization, leading to the Khakas being a minority within their own republic.

Geography and environment

The Khakas homeland is located in the Minusinsk Depression, a fertile steppe basin bordered by the Sayano-Altai mountain region, specifically the Kuznetsk Alatau and Western Sayan ranges. Major rivers include the Yenisei, Abakan, and Chulym, while significant bodies of water are Lake Shira and the reservoir of the Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam. The landscape features archaeological sites like the Sulek writings and the Chesty Yazychkin sanctuary, with protected areas including the Khakassky Nature Reserve and the Oglakhty range.

Economy

Historically, the Khakas economy was based on semi-nomadic animal husbandry, hunting, and limited agriculture, as documented by explorers like Daniel Gottlieb Messerschmidt. The Soviet Union initiated intensive industrialization, developing major sectors such as coal mining in the Chernogorsk area, aluminum production linked to the Rusal company, and extensive hydroelectric power generation from the Sayano-Shushenskaya and Mainskaya dams on the Yenisei River. While these industries dominate, there is a growing focus on ethnotourism and the development of special economic zones to diversify the regional economy.

Category:Ethnic groups in Russia Category:Turkic peoples Category:Indigenous peoples of Siberia