Traditional Even Child Rearing in Nomadic Conditions

Abstract

This article deals with the problem of indigenous peoples’ child-rearing practices based on their traditional way of life, language and authentic ethnic culture against the background of a strong national revival of the peoples of the Russian Federation. It shows that inclement natural and climatic conditions and the vulnerable traditional way of life of indigenous peoples of the North have necessitated creation of a special national policy towards their sustainable development, which would provide for an action framework to preserve their indigenous culture, traditional way of life, and primordial living environment. In particular, it resolves the essential contradiction between the existing unified system of school education and the relevance of variable organization of traditional education for children of the indigenous peoples of the North in the nomad camp, based on their ethnic, psychological, and physiological features of development. A model for traditional Even child rearing in the nomad camp has been developed and tested as a new form of organizing children’s life during summer holidays in the North. Special aspects of educational environment for Northern children in the nomad camp have been substantiated based on a curriculum with an ethnic focus aiming to form their identity as native speakers of the language and bearers of the culture of their people and as members of the northern ethnic group. The effectiveness of ethnocultural education of Even children in the nomad camp has been experimentally proved through an ethno-pedagogical theory and practice in specific natural conditions of the North.