Reproduction of the Ethnicity of the Kumandins of Biysk (Based on the Materials of the Ethno-Sociological Survey)

The article describes the attribution of the Kumandins to the status of indigenous minorities and the measures taken to support indigenous cultures. The Kumandins are the leaders of the social and political movement in Altai among the indigenous peoples. The source base of the study was the materials of an ethno-sociological survey conducted in 2016 in Biysk, Altai Territory. The ethno-sociological survey was conducted using the method of a structured interview. The Kumandins are focused on solidarity in solving their problems at the level of public organizations. They lack a pronounced leader. They entrust the representation of their interests to the Altai Regional Public Organization “Association of the Kumandins of Altai”. The assimilation and small number of the Kumandins determine their interest in state support and its necessity. The Kumandins spoke in favor of providing social privileges for education, housing, land, medicine, etc., as well as privileges for the revival of the language and traditional way of life who participated in the ethno-sociological survey. In reality, some of these privileges should be provided in accordance with the legislation. At the regional level, there are problems with the practical implementation of laws. The Kumandins of Biysk pay attention to the non-working legislation in support for the indigenous population. The majority of the Kumandins assess positively the changes that have occurred since they were granted the status of indigenous minorities. During the conducted ethno-sociological survey, a wide range of problems of the modern Kumandin community was identified: unemployment and job loss, low income, alcoholism, high cost of living, housing, access to education, as well as loss of language, non-working legislation, disunity of the people, disappearance of the people, loss of traditions, lack of national schools and kindergartens.