Koryak historical narratives about reindeer-breeder’ collectivization

In the paper some features of the collectivization among the koryak reindeer-breeders of Kamchatka (chauchuvens) are shown through historical and family narratives. From governmental point of view narratives containing the descrip- tion of collectivazation were interpreted as antisoviet agitation, and, therefore, such stories weren’t written or published. An interview (2015–2018) with old chauchuvens had shown that memories of those tragic events are still live in Koryak folk history. In nowadays records containing the descriptions of collectivazation time before Soviet power is shown as a time of deer prosperity in families. The idealization of the image of rich reindeer-breeders is also found. In popular and official versions, the polarity of the image of a reindeer-breeder is obvious: from idealization (in popular) to completely negative (official documents and fiction literature). According to historical narratives reindeer-breeders were trying to hide their herds from bolshevists. Unfortunately the hiding of herds was usually followed by arrest of the reindeer-breeders. Attempts of hiding the family herds from the Soviet power are interpreted by narrators as a saving of herds. The Soviet power itself is considered as a destroying power. In narratives reindeer-breeders the opposition is very dis- tinct: local vs foreign. In this type of narratives negative attitude to foreign Russian who destroyed local balance is very strong. The generation who witnessed the collectivization has already gone but their children who listened to the stories about the collectivization and know all those tragic events are still alive. The dying-out of deers and great hunger started after collectivization.