Overview
Most of the Evenk people lived in China and Russia. They are reindeer herders who had roamed eastern forests of Siberia for centuries. (Lavrillier et al., 2018)
The Evenk homeland, also known as Evenkia, is located at northern China, Mongolia and Arctic Russia. The Evenks delight in the rich biodiversity of their homeland, where reindeer, bears and elks can roam freely. However, they definitely have to endure the extreme temperature fluctuations, which can vary from -68°C to 30°C in summer. (Williams, 2020)
Imprints
Natural worship and totemism are deeply rooted in the life of Evenk people, which shows their connection to the natural world that has been passed down through generations.
Natural worship, a deep reverence for the earth, emerges from natural phenomena, indicates the undeniable bond between human and the nature and contains the wisdom of local people. (Knight, 2010)
Totemism uses a natural symbolic token to represent the spirit and the faith of ethnic groups. Evenk people uses specific totems to encapsulate their aspiration to power and the reverence of nature.(Wagner, 2018)
Natural Worship: Sunflower
Samples of sunflowers
Ewenk animal skin products are primarily inspired by natural patterns and textures. The hunting lifestyle lends a sense of naturalness, authenticity, and simplicity to its products. (Williams, 2020)
The sunflower holds a significant place in Evenk culture, symbolizing peace and good fortune. It emerged from the ideology of “sun worship” among the Evenk people. People tend to believe that imitating nature can provide them inner strength during times of low productivity restricted by nature. Therefore, it comes as no astonishment that the sun, the master of all nature transformations, emerges as the revered totem among indigenous communities, particularly in regions of extreme cold. Over time, the image of sunflowers has played a sacred role, embodying the hope and aspiration of the local community. ( Mu, Zhou and Wu, 2023)
Totem: Reindeer
Reindeer not only serves as the vital sustenance for the Evenk people, but also embody the strength and encompass spiritual significance.
The superhuman strength of all kinds of fierce birds and beasts is amazing and fascinating, symbolizing the invincible momentum, and constituting the majestic implication, among which the worship of deer is the most prominent. In the belief of Ewenki, reindeer is an important medium for transmitting information between people and gods. Shaman will try to attach his soul to the deer during sacrifices, so as to pray for heaven instead of people.
( Mu, Zhou and Wu, 2023)
Maintaining the hunting style of life, it is essential for Evenk people to be fast and strong, resulting in the running deer pattern, which often appeared in the sunflower, reflecting the Evenk people’s wish to be agile and fast as deer.
Even in the present day, the Evenk people continue to maintain a strong bond with reindeer, which is deeply rooted in their traditional nomadic lifestyle even though most of them have settled down in recent time.
Current Situation
Land
The issue of land rights is the major problem for Evenki.
Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON), led many Evenks to fear that Russia’s indigenous land was at risk of exploitation while indigenous inhabitants faced a growing threat of intimidation and harassment.
(Williams, 2020)
The land they have lived for centuries is deprived from them, which encapsulates the history and the story of the ethnic minority. The displacement forced them to adopt new lifestyles and face new challenges. Additionally, the potential exploitation and damage caused by urbanization and industrialization might ruin the land and its ecosystem.
The video also indicates that land rights also have an impact on production enthusiasm, as Evenk people are concerned about the potential loss of their land they have invested in when it is taken away by the government and the wealth they accumulated through their hard work.
Tourism
There are three ways for Evenk people to participate in tourism.
1. People who possess reindeer
Displaying reindeer at reindeer campsites- tourists can interact and observe reindeer
2. Commerce
Operating residential and tourism commodity shops
3. Mainly young people
Working in scenic spots or for tourism companies
Tourism provides various job opportunities and enhance the quality of life of Evenki, uplifting the economy and social well-being of them. (Rongna & Sun, 2022)
Culture: Sunflower
| Search Keywords | Type | Number of plays |
| Evenki Sunflower | Video or Pictures | 13760 times |
| Su Embroidery | Video or Pictures | 930 million times |
| Pinch Wire Enamel | Video or Pictures | 300 million times |
The statistics in the chart suggest that people’s understanding of the Ewenki “sun flower” handicraft is far less than jade carving, Suzhou embroidery and other hand-made products.
The popularization degree and dissemination of Ewenki’s “sunflower” handicrafts are limited, as there is a lack of interest in this exquisite art form. With each passing day, the symbolic meaning and captivating story behind the sunflower are gradually fading from public awareness, causing the craftsmanship to lose its luster.
( Liu and Wang, 2024 )
Language
The functioning of Evenk language is reduced to a minimum.
( Andreeva and Struchkov, 2021 )
Fewer and fewer people are learning the Evenk language these days due to the lack of educational process and the reduction of Evenk language functions, which means that people replace Evenk language with other official languages such as Mandarin. ( Andreeva and Struchkov, 2021 )
In the video The last reindeer herders, the Evenk woman expressed her concern about the future of Evenk language, as her grand children do not have a chance to learn it in the future.
The imprints they left, once vivid and profound, which bore witness their history and treasure of art, are gradually fading away.
From sunflower to reindeer, the Evenk people dedicate their entire lives to harmoniously coexisting with nature. While modern society’s reliance on cars and factories continue to deplete natural resources and pollute the environment, the Evenk people remain steadfast in their commitment to preserve the sanctity of nature because they know that they are always enveloped in its nurturing embrace.
Biliography
Andreeva, T. and Struchkov, K. (2021) ‘Modern problems of evenk language functioning and its development prospects’, SHS Web of Conferences, 112, p. 00029. doi:10.1051/shsconf/202111200029.
Knight, F. 2010. 6 Natural Worship: Slavery, the Environment, and Black Consciousness in the Antebellum South. Working the Diaspora: The Impact of African Labor on the Anglo-American World, 1650-1850. New York, USA: New York University Press, pp. 131-154. https://doi-org.proxy.library.upenn.edu/10.18574/nyu/9780814748183.003.0007,
Lavrillier, A., Dumont, A. and Brandišauskas, D. (2018a) ‘Human-nature relationships in the Tungus Societies of Siberia and Northeast China’, Human-environment relationships in Siberia and Northeast China. Knowledge, rituals, mobility and politics among the Tungus peoples, followed by Varia, pp.40. doi:10.4000/emscat.3088.
Liu, Y. and Wang, R. Thoughts on the inheritance and development of Ewenki’s “sunflower” handicrafts. Oriental Collection, 2024(01), pp. 153-155.
Mu, S. Zhou, Y. and Wu, J. 2023. Conformities and Images: Study on the Creation Expression of Ewenki “Sunflower ” of Zhiqishangxiang. Art and Design Research, pp. 85.
Rongna, A. and Sun, J. (2022) ‘Tourism livelihood transition and rhythmic sustainability: The case of the reindeer evenki in China’, Annals of Tourism Research, 94, p. 103381. doi:10.1016/j.annals.2022.103381.
The evenki people, custodians of the resources of Yakutia – Photo Essay (2023) The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/oct/03/the-evenki-people-custodians-of-the-resources-of-yakutia-photo-essay (Accessed: 23 July 2024).
Wagner, R. (2018) ‘Totemism’, The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology, pp. 1–3. doi:10.1002/9781118924396.wbiea1704.
Williams, V. (2020) Evenk. Santa Barbara, California : ABC-CLIO, an Imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC,pp. 328-323.
Marginalized Imprints 