Trees in sacral and utilitarian practice: the value of nature and ecology in the life of the Selkups

Abstract

The study represents an interdisciplinary analysis of the material and symbolic nature of the trees in the culture of Siberian indigenous people. The work is based on the archaeological, ethnographic and linguistic materials related to one of the Siberian aboriginal peoples, the Selkups. The results of the linguistic study of mythology, ethnographic research and archaeological excavations of the burial sites (16th–17th) allowed us to build up a model of the Selkup attitude to the most important elements of nature, in their view, the tree. To make a comparative analysis, the work considers the materials related to the neighbouring ethnic groups that were similar in their culture and the worldview. The study discusses the problem of continuing of the tradition in the period of 16th–20th centuries. Based on the structural analysis of the gathered materials, the authors came to the conclusion that the Selkup traditional perception of the trees remained unchanged within the discussed period. The continuation of the tradition allowed the Selkups to preserve the metaphysical perception of nature and their place in it. The close connection of man and nature became the basis for keeping the ecological balance and, as a result, protecting the society.