Northern Ethnic Groups Research Articles

조선시대 조선과 명의 국경인식과 조명관계

After the founding of the country, Joseon actively established foreign relations in order to stabilize the legitimacy of the dynasty and the ruling system. Joseon established friendly diplomatic relations with the Ming and established diplomatic relations with the Jurchen and Japan. The external relations of the Joseon were shaped by the international situation, and it formulated and implemented an active foreign policy to eliminate political and military threats. The Ming, which replaced the Yuan as the central state in East Asia, sought to establish a unified governance system centered on the emperor domestically during the reign of the Hongwu Emperor(洪武帝) and externally to form an international order centered on the Ming. The Ming recognized Joseon in the northeast as a neighboring country and implemented an active policy of conciliation in order to bring the Jurchen, who lived in Liaodong and the northern part of the Korean peninsula, under the influence of the Ming. Specifically, the Ming established a military government system to actively govern Liaodong and set up a loose rein policy(羈縻政策) for the surrounding Jurchen. The Ming wanted to establish a border with Joseon along the Yalu river(압록강) and Tumen river(두만강) to create a stable relationship. Joseon emerged as a state on the Korean peninsula, replacing Goryeo, and continued to have stable diplomatic relations with the Ming. In addition, Joseon wanted to keep the Jurchen, who lived in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, under Joseon's sphere of influence in case the northern ethnic groups, including the Jurchen, were invaded by the international situation. As such, the Joseon and Ming clashed over influence over the Liaodong and the Jurchen. Basically, however, Joseon and Ming maintained mutually recognized borders and sought a stable international order. However, the concept of Joseon's borders was complicated by the consolidation of the Jurchen in the 16th century and their emergence as a new power. As the Jurchen expanded their power, Joseon, in conjunction with the Ming, actively sought to control them. However, due to the rapidly changing conditions of the Imjin War, the Joseon and Ming were unable to curb the growth of the Jurchen. The unified Jurchen founded the Later Jin(後金) and went to war with the Ming in earnest, renamed the Qing, and defeated the Ming, emerging as the center of power in East Asia. The border problems of the Joseon and Qing were both continuous and distinct from the border problems of the Joseon and Ming.

Ancient genomic analysis of a Chinese hereditary elite from the Northern and Southern Dynasties

China's Northern and Southern Dynasties period (3rd-6th centuries AD) marked a significant era of ethnic integration in northern China. However, previous ancient DNA studies have primarily focused on northern ethnic groups, with limited research on the genetic formation of the hereditary elite family, especially considering their abundant archeological record and clear material identity. In this study, we obtained the ancient genome of a hereditary elite family, Gao Bin (高宾, 503-572 AD), at 0.6473-fold coverage with 475132 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the 1240k panel. His mitochondrial haplogroup belonged to Z4 and Y-haplogroup to O1a1a2b-F2444∗. The genetic profile of Gao Bin was most similar to that of the northern Han Chinese. He could be modeled as deriving all his ancestry from Late Neolithic to Iron Age Yellow River farmers without influence from Northeast Asia, Korea, or the Mongolian Plateau. Our study sheds light on the genetic formation of hereditary elite families in the context of the Southern and Northern Dynasties ethnic integration.

Methodological Approaches to the Study of Indigenous Peoples: Russian Practice

From the very beginning of its rule, the Soviet Government paid attention to the development of the peoples living in the border areas. In 1926, the “Temporary Regulations on the Administration of Native Peoples and Tribes of the Northern Outskirts of the RSFSR” was adopted; it identified 36 ethnonyms and the territories of their original residence, to which particular preferences were distributed. The purpose of this article is to analyze the current situation and future prospects of the indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Russian Far East against the background of socio-economic, political and cultural changes. It separates the indigenous peoples of the North from the ethnic diversity of Russia’s transformation from “aboriginal peoples” to “northern indigenous minorities” and further examines the problems associated with the growth of the “Siberian and Far Eastern” peoples. Attention is drawn to the fact that despite the compiled List of Northern Ethnic Groups, different numbers were considered in the ongoing population censuses. The ethnic self-determination of aboriginal peoples also changed from adopting the father’s nationality and, subsequently, the transition to the mother’s nationality, and vice versa, which led to “fluctuations” in the number of individual ethnic groups. Based on population census data (1926-2021), the dynamics of the number of indigenous peoples in the North, Siberia, and the Far East were analyzed, and it was noted that, in general, there is a positive increase in all northern ethnic groups. The dynamics of the population of the indigenous peoples were studied in more detail (1989-2021), making it possible to compare the demographic trends from the last population census of the USSR (1989) to those of the newborn Russia (2021). Grouped according to indigenous demographics, five groups were identified that represent different demographic directions. It is concluded that the growth in the number of indigenous peoples in the North, Siberia, and the Far East is primarily determined by non-demographic factors.

Антропология холода: культура питания коренных народов Республики Саха (Якутия)

Reference to the food culture of the indigenous peoples of the North within the framework of anthropology of cold, where the peculiarity of the cultural landscape of the North is the life strategy conditioned by cold and permafrost, is caused by the increased interest of scientific community to the unique experience of life support of the northern ethnic groups. Anthropological understanding of the Cold is a request of the world science in terms of solving a wide range of socio-humanitarian problems related to comprehension, adaptation, cultural experience of life in the "permafrost". The authors of the article consider the food culture of the indigenous peoples of the North as one of the important aspects in the ethnic system of culture and values. The article interprets not only the physiological, but also the cultural foundations of the traditional food of the natives of the North. For the first time on the basis of interdisciplinary methodology the multidimensional phenomenon of nutrition among the indigenous peoples of Yakutia was considered as a conceptualization of the northern cuisine in an innovative direction - cryosophy. The study uses methodological innovations of environmental sociology and cultural anthropology, historical-cognitive and hermeneutic analysis. Based on the retrospective analysis of historical and ethnographic sources and modern sociological and expeditionary materials, the method of mapping analyzes food preferences, traditional technologies and recipes, as well as the symbolic meanings and meanings of food in the context of calendar time. Food occupied an important place and was endowed by the participants with a special semantic meaning. The process of daily and festive meals for the indigenous peoples of the North is a special ritual in which there is a spiritual connection with nature, with the higher deities. The notion of life and its symbolic representation was incorporated into food. At the same time fatty food had a special semantic meaning, which embodied not only the idea of "well-being", but also contributed to the body's resistance to extreme temperatures. Adaptive life-support strategy in the North formed a special dietary regime and food behavior actively using cryogenic resources of cold in the preparation and preservation of food. There is an important conclusion about the circular pattern of nutrition of northern communities in the projections of natural and social space. The authors conclude that the ecologically balanced diet of northern herders, reindeer herders, hunters and fishermen of Yakutia reflects the centuries-old experience of adaptation to extreme low temperatures and also acts as a cultural symbol manifesting the spiritual foundations of life and human destiny in the North.

고구려 암문토기의 기원 연구

This paper is to examine the origin of dark burnished marks, a distinctive feature of Koguryo Pottery. Dark burnished marks is a decorative pattern in which the surface of pottery with intricate designs using a sturdy tool, It is primarily found in pottery of northern ethnic groups such as Xiongnu, Xianbie, Koguryo, Balhae, and Khitan. In Koguryo, dark burnished marks appeared in the late mid-period when the use of fine clay became widespread. It is characterized by relatively simple pattern motifs like horizontal lines, square shapes, vertical lines, and continuous ring patterns, inscribed in various locations including the body of pottery. It is primarily found in relatively large and medium-sized vessels, such as jar, large jar, steamer, and large bowl. Dark burnished marks is not a decorative technique that originated in Koguryo. It was also found in Xiongnu pottery, which preceded Koguryo, as well as in the Three Yan or Northern Wei dynasty of pottery, which had close relationships with Koguryo. Xiongnu pottery was popular in the northern steppes, including Mongolia, from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD. Therefore, it is not directly related to the origin of dark burnished marks in Koguryo pottery. The Xiongnu had a significant influence on the development of Xianbei pottery culture. Dark burnished marks has been confirmed in Xianbei pottery from the 3rd century. It is difficult to establish a direct relationship between the pottery of Koguryo in the middle period and that of the Three Yan. This is due to differences not only in basic forms but also in aspects such as the types of vessels with dark burnished marks, the preferred locations of the application, and the preference for patterns. However, it is reasonable to understand the origin of dark burnished marks on Koguryo pottery in the context of the material culture exchange between Koguryo and the Murong Xianbei, who constantly competed for control of the Liaodong region from the 4th to the early 5th centuries. This is also the case with the introduction of mural tombs in Koguryo. It is likely that dark burnished marks of Koguryo pottery was the result of selective adoption of some elements, such as
 the ark burnished marks technique that has been passed down from the Xiongnu, rather than the formal elements of pottery, in the context of various forms of cultural exchange with the Three Yan.

АНАЛИЗ ОСОБЕННОСТЕЙ ТРАДИЦИОННЫХ ВИДОВ ХОЗЯЙСТВЕННОЙ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ В КРАСНОЯРСКОМ КРАЕ: ДОСОВЕТСКИЙ, СОВЕТСКИЙ, СОВРЕМЕННЫЙ ПЕРИОДЫ

This article presents an analysis of three historical stages in the development of traditional types of economic activity in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The authors recorded the features of crafts (farming, reindeer breeding, fishing, fur trade), which were engaged in by the indigenous people and migrants of the Krasnoyarsk district, which was part of the Yenisei province in the pre-Soviet period. Further, the authors studied the features of the Soviet policy in relation to the traditional crafts of representatives of the northern ethnic groups. Transformations of this type of activity in modern Russia were revealed. It was also recorded that the specifics of the transformations of traditional forms of management were largely determined by state policy. If during the period of the Russian Empire the state adhered to the position of distancing and non-interference in the economic activities of the indigenous inhabitants of the North, then in the Soviet era there is a clear interest of the state in the active management of all processes. In modern Russia, the policy of paternalism remains, but due to the transition to a market economy, it becomes ineffective. The study showed that significant transformations are required in the sector of traditional forms of management, because the future of the indigenous population of the Krasnoyarsk Territory directly depends on them.

A Study on the Endangered Language: Saving the Oroqens Language of Northern China

The ethnic groups mainly distributed in the northern People’s Republic of China include Manchu, Mongolian, Hui, Russian, Korean, Oroqen, Xibe, Hezhen, etc. According to the sixth National Census in 2010, the population of Oroqen is 8,659. In accordance with the 2021 China Statistical Yearbook, the Oroqen have a total population of 9,168. The Oroqen account for only about 0.03 percent of the ethnic minority population in northern China. Despite the rise of the Oroqen population from 2010 to 2021, the relative numbers of Oroqen people compared with other northern ethnic groups are still very small. When a language becomes endangered, there is more than one factor leading to the phenomenon. The assimilation of languages is an inevitable process in the course of globalization. But as a minority language, it stands for cultural consciousness. Under the background of integration, multi-ethnic cultures are particularly precious. The objective of the article is to maintain Oroqen language ideologies and cultural consciousness in the process of globalization and assimilation. This article traces the reasons that lead to the decline of minority language use in northern China by taking the Oroqen language as the case. In the meantime, since the Evenk language and Oroqen language are homologous, we might be able to gain a better understanding of language preservation by looking at how Russia protects the Evenk language. In order to restore the language's vitality, some measures can be taken to give the new Evenks generation more opportunities to connect with their own ethnic language. Finally, on the basis of the current situation of the Oroqen language, this study offers a few suggestions for language protection.

GEO-STRATEGIC ANALYSIS OF IDENTITY POLITICS AND ETHNIC SEPARATISM: A RE-EVALUATION OF NIGERIA’S GOOD NEIGHBOURLINESS POLITICAL FRAMEWORK IN THE FACE OF TERRORISM

Identity politics plays a major role in the survival, peace and continued existence of independent African states. This cannot but exist in a situation where ethnic groups were factionalized between geographical delineations of colonialism. Nigeria lies between five francophone countries with geo strategic, identity and security implications. This ipso facto connotes the idea of a split of ethno religious groups originally bounded in historical empires but now exist within the borders of colonially separated states. In this wise, Nigeria’s good neighbourliness becomes an important political framework of interest. International terrorism since the wake of the 11th September attack on America has metalized into local terrorism perpetrated by the Boko Haram group in the case of Nigeria. Boko Haram terrorism has been internationalized with linkages with Isis and has spread its tentacles beyond the shores of Nigeria into neighbouring states of Chad, Niger, and Cameroon (countries which since the colonial era harboured Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri (Kanouri or Yerwa or Bare/Bari) and other such Nigerian northern ethnic groups with Islamic affiliations still binding the divided units since the Fulani jihad of the 18th century). Since Independence, Nigeria has wittingly dwelt within a choking Franco phony politics of survival. She had maintained a policy of good neighbourliness that has cost her continued friendship with France and economic openness to assist the African neighbours a breathing air of survival. In the wake of the new politics of international terrorism and with the spread of terrorist activities beyond the Nigerian borders into neighbouring States, this policy (good neighbourliness) becomes an agenda for analytical consideration, primarily because, relations between pre-colonial ethnic groups continue with a natural push and pull factor that post-colonial states cannot ignore. This is the relevance of this research paper which considers terrorism and identity politics within Nigeria’s security challenge as implicative on good neighbourliness. The paper argues that, terrorism, identity politics are negatively implicated on the security of Nigeria and its neighbours and that the political framework of good neighbourliness needs to be reviewed to take care of new arising challenges.

Цвет в искусстве традиционного костюма коренных малочисленных народов Тюменского Севера (на примере анализа музейных экспонатов)

Research objective: The authors set a goal to analyze the color symbolics in the folk costume of indigenous ethnic groups of North (Nenets, Khanty and Mansi) of the Tyumen region on the example of authentic sources, museum pieces and compare it with the main functions of the Luscher personality color analysis, to reveal the “collective subconscious”, nature of ethnic groups, their mentality. Sources: The basis of the article was the works of many researchers in various fields of science and culture (I. Newton, I.V. von Goethe, M. Lomonosov, N. Volkov, V. Kandinsky, I. Itten, M.O. Surina, R.G. Gadiyeva, O.Yu. Evseeva, O.A. Bakiyeva and others). In the course of the color analysis of the traditional folk costume and the identification of the color mentality of the ethnic group, color diagnostics according to M. Luscher was used. Content: The research of color was associated with the cultural activities of the peoples of the North of the Khanty (Ostyaks), Nenets (Samoyeds) and Mansi (Voguls). The color system was examined in traditional folk costume, it was developed over many centuries and carried information about the views of the people about the world around, their psychological characteristics (national character) and mentality. The novelty of the research is the relation of color preference, which the masters used in the manufacture of traditional clothing, and psyche features of these ethnic groups. Considering the color concept of Max Luscher and its relation with the psychological characteristics of a person and ethnic group, we developed criteria of color analysis of products of cooperative creative thought of ethnic groups (traditional costume): dominant (fundamental colors), subdominant (color in ornamental symbols), tonic (color emphasis in details), which would correspond to the main functions of color diagnostics in order to determine the color mentality of each nation individually. The article analyzes the color symbolism in the costume of the northern, eastern and southern Khanty, Nenets, Mansi on museum pieces in Tyumen, Tobolsk, Khanty-Mansiysk. The analysis obtained was compared with Luscher's color diagnostics and the results were verified according to the characteristics of textbooks on ethnopsychology. All this proves the certain intention in choice of the color scheme in a traditional costume, as well as provide the opportunity to highlight the features of the art of folk costume in different northern ethnic groups. Conclusions: In general, the color designation in the ornament of the indigenous small peoples of the Tyumen North (Khanty, Mansi and Nenets) disclose information about the way of life, folk traditions, rituals, the world outlook of the people who nomadized, was engaged in reindeer herding, hunting, fishing, and also the nature of the ethnic group, color mentality. The distinctive character traits of the small indigenous people can be identified by analyzing the color codes in the clothes: red-activity, blue - restraint, green - modesty, love of nature, for his family, etc. In general, the color mentality reveals cultural traditions with elements of the Ob-Ugric archaic, which is in harmony with nature, in balance.

Необычные блюда народов Севера

As you know, the formation of the diet of various peoples of the world is influenced by many factors: first of all, geographical location and climate, which determines the consumption of certain types of fruits, plants, and animals. This formed the people’s features in the development and structure of the body and led to differences in health. The article provides information about the food traditions of the northern ethnic groups. The “northern” type of metabolism requires the predominance of protein and fat components in the diet. Studies show that people who came to the Far North from the middle latitudes, their need for protein increased by 16%, in fat by 42%, in carbohydrates decreased by 40%. Food rich in fat and high in calories allows you to saturate the body and give it the necessary amount of energy without increasing the volume of food consumption. Meat products: deer meat, game, meat of large marine animals: walruses, seals, whales. Pinniped meat per 100 g contains 24.5 g of protein and 113 kcal. It is also rich in potassium, sodium and phosphorus, vitamins A, B2 and other compounds. An important role in the life of Northern peoples is played by berries: cranberries and cloudberries, which contain dietary fiber (2.5 g and 6.3 g), vitamins B2 (0.02 mg and 0.07 mg), C (15 mg and 29 mg), E (1 mg and 1.5 mg), magnesium (7 mg and 29 mg), calcium (25 mg and 15 mg), phosphorus (16 mg and 29 mg), potassium (90 mg and 180 mg). Wild sorrel, wild cherry, lichen and other herbs are widely used in food and medicine and contain a complex of enzymes, vitamins, fat, and organic acids. The main product is sea and river fish: whitefish, white salmon, tugun, arctic cisco and others. Fish is served in dried, boiled, smoked, salted, frozen or baked types, usually without a side dish, which is not so common in the North, most often it is replaced by berries or roots. In winter, stroganina is a delicacy. Dried fish also goes into flour, which is used to make soup, bake bread, or mix with berries. The article presents information on such dishes as ngaibat, kanyga, “blood soup”, kopal’khen or kymgyt, kiviak, akutaq and others.

Nigerian Separatist Movements, Growing Secession Agitations and the Stand of International Human Rights Law

[enter This paper firstly examines the unabated ongoing agitations for secession from the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the Yoruba and Igbo ethnic majorities who are indigenous to Southern Nigeria but also to some areas of Northern Nigeria. After years of unheeded calls for constitution amendment and restructuring that could heal the maladies of marginalisation, ethnic cleansing, and insecurity masterminded by religious terrorists and jihadists masquerading as herdsmen, the Yoruba and Igbo agitators have now insisted that they are no longer interested in either constitution amendment or restructuring but in having an Oduduwa Republic and a Republic of Biafra respectively. Even the predominantly Christian indigenous peoples of the southern parts of Northern Nigeria, who are popularly called the Middle Belt, have warned that they would never associate with the Muslim Core North if Nigeria breaks up. The reasons that the Southerners and the Middle Belters have alleged for their positions are marginalisation, ethnic cleansing and religious terrorism by some Core Northern ethnic and religious groups. The paper then examines in details the justifiability or otherwise of those secession agitations under international human rights law, some of whose instruments are domesticated by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Such rights as the right to self-determination, indigenous peoples’ rights, right to freedom of association, right to freedom of expression and right to life are considered vis-a-vis the ongoing conflict between some of the agitators and the Nigerian Armed Forces, which have had reasons to deploy airstrikes against suspected hideouts of militiamen agitating for a sovereign Republic of Biafra. The research adopts a doctrinal method and makes use of both primary and secondary sources of data from both the international and municipal forums. It finds out that a popular agitation for self-determination or secession referendum is an inalienable, natural and supranational right under both international law and the Nigerian municipal law and that those agitations must however be conducted peacefully. With South Sudan, Western Sahara, Eritrea, East Timor, Kosovo, Crimea and Brexit, among others, as precedents, it also finds out that it is the duty of the United Nations and other concerned members of the international community under the UN Charter and other relevant treaties to insist on the conduct of a referendum in the Nigerian case to avert an imminent full-blown civil war that could precipitate unprecedented humanitarian disaster in and beyond Nigeria, which is home to one-fifth of Africa’s population. The paper accordingly calls on the UN, African Union, Economic Community of West African States, United States, United Kingdom, European Union and other responsible members of the international community to act fast under the relevant international law instruments, more so as the whole world has now become a global village. Body]

Воспитательно-образовательный потенциал традиционных промыслово-охотничьих игр лесных ненцев

and educational potential of traditional fishing and hunting games. This study provides an analysis of the games of the Forest Nenets people described in previously published studies. The author analyses the classification of the Forest Nenets’ games suggested by the other authors. The author suggests his own classification believing that it reflects pedagogical and educational impact on the child’s and adult’s organism in a more sophisticated way. The study describes the multifunctional orientation of the traditional hunting games in terms of their universality in the vital activities of children and teenagers. Objective: to determine, describe and in some cases to reconstruct the traditional fishing and hunting games of the Forest Nenets people, as well as to reveal their pedagogical and educational potential. Research materials: the author in the work relied on the information on the games of the forest Nenets people contained in published sources, as well as own field materials of the author collected in Nizhnevartovsky District of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Yugra (the Agan Forest Nenets people). Results and novelty of the research: the scientific novelty of the study consists in the following facts: the traditional games of the forest Nenets of a fishing and hunting nature are identified, and in some cases reconstructed; their content is most fully described; the pedagogical and educational potential of these games is revealed; the comparison of the presented games with the games of other northern ethnic groups of the Russian Federation is presented; a differentiated classification of traditional games of the Forest Nenets is proposed. It was revealed that the fishing and hunting games of the Forest Nenets acted as an effective pedagogical and educational tool that allows the subject to overcome the psychophysical difficulties, to acquire certain motor skills and skills.

Brief Analysis on Hunting Procedures and Culture of Liao Dynasty Through <i>Zhuoxie Figures</i>

The object of this paper is Figures, a painting scroll handed down by Hu Gui, a painter from the Khitan period. Hu Gui, the most representative man of Northern Grassland Painting School. He had a lot of painting works, at present, Figures must be the largest, the most representative and most abundant one in content. This picture can be roughly divided into three parts. It depicts the hunting life of the Khitan nobles. Zhuoxie means to set up a tent and take a rests. Based on historical documents, this paper explores the hunting procedure and culture of Qidan (also known as Khitan, an ancient nationality in China) in Liao Dynasty. In this paper, by means of analyzing the picture scroll content and historical data, the basic procedures of hunting in Liao Dynasty have been sorted out and summarized. In this way, further analysis of the role of hunting in Liao Dynasty has been carried out. Also, the influence of hunting culture in Liao Dynasty on the customs of northern ethnic groups in later ages has also been preliminarily investigated. The results have shown a duality of culture in Liao Dynasty: It has characteristics of incorporating ethnic cultures and other advanced cultures of diverse nature that were absorbed and accepted.

Ethnicity, religious affiliation and girl-child marriage: a cross-sectional study of nationally representative sample of female adolescents in Nigeria

BackgroundThe persistently high prevalence of girl-child marriage remains a public health and developmental concern in Nigeria. Despite global campaign against the practice and policy efforts by Nigerian government, the prevalence remains unabated. This study investigates the prevalence and the influence of ethnicity and religious affiliation on the girl-child marriage among female adolescents in Nigeria.MethodsData of 7804 girls aged 15–19 years extracted from the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey were used. Ethnic groups were classified into five: major Northern ethnic group (Hausa/Fulani); Northern ethnic minorities; two major Southern ethnic groups (Yoruba and Igbo), and Southern ethnic minorities. The prevalence of girl-child marriage was determined for the five ethnic groups and individually for each ethnic minority group. Relationships between ethnicity and religious affiliation on girl-child marriage were explored using Cox proportional hazard regression models, adjusting for residence, education and wealth quintile.ResultsChild marriage was higher for the Northern majority ethnic group of Hausa/Fulani (54.8%) compared to the two major Southern ethnic groups (3.0–3.6%) and aggregated Northern ethnic minorities (25.7%) and Southern minorities (5.9%). However, overall, the less known Northern ethnic minority groups of Kambari (74.9%) and Fulfude (73.8%) recorded the highest prevalence. Compared to the major Southern ethnic group of Yoruba, the adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) of child marriage was significantly higher for Northern ethnic minorities (AHR = 2.50; 95% C.I. = 1.59–3.95) and Northern major ethnicity (AHR = 3.67, 95% C.I. = 2.33–5.77). No significant difference was recorded among Southern ethnic groups. Girls affiliated to other religions (Muslim and traditionalist) had higher child-marriage risks compared to Christians (AHR = 2.10; 95% C.I. = 1.54–2.86).ConclusionEthnicity and religion have independent associations with girl-child marriage in Nigeria; interventions must address culturally-laden social norms that vary by ethnic groups as well as religious-related beliefs.

The Gujun Site of the Eastern Zhou Period in Xingtang County, Hebei

Abstract In the years 2015 through 2017, archaeological excavations were conducted to the Gujun Site in Xingtang County, which recovered burials, chariot-and-horse pits and sacrificial pits, house foundations, water wells, ash pits, kilns, ash ditches and other features, from which artifacts made of gold, bronze, jade, stone, bone, horn and antler, shell and cowry, pottery, etc. were unearthed. The date of this site was from the late Spring-and-Autumn Period to the mid and late Warring-States Period, in which the city site, burials and residential areas were existing together; their dates, locations and cultural connotations are all closely related to the Xianyu tribe and Zhongshan State, especially the chariot-and-horse and animal victim pits with unique form were the first archaeologically discovered remains of this type. The discovery of the Gujun Site reflected the convergence and evolutions of the cultures of the ethnic groups in the Northern Frontier Zone and the Huaxia System, and provided important materials for the researches on the processes of the Sinicization of the northern ethnic groups such as Rong and Di and the configuration of the Chinese nation as a pluralistic integration.

Phytochemistry, proximate and antioxidant properties of some indigenous leafy vegetables

The use of leafy vegetables in diet is a common practice among the people of the Northern ethnic groups of Ghana. In this study, a survey was conducted in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo district and Kanvilli of the Tamale Metropolis of the Northern Region of Ghana, to document the indigenous leafy vegetables routinely consumed as part of their alimentary culture. The phytochemical content, proximate composition and antioxidant properties of the plants cited were assessed. Nine leafy vegetables: Amaranthus cruentus, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Corchorus olitorius, Vernonia amygdalina, Phaseolus vulgaris, Ipomoea batatas, Adansonia digitata, Moringa oleifera and Annona reticulate were inventoried. These plants contained various groups of phytochemicals and were generally rich in carbohydrates, protein and fibre, but low in fat. They contain an appreciable amount of energy and also demonstrated good antioxidant activities. These characteristics of the vegetables suggested their usefulness in the maintenance of good health, which may also explains why these groups of Ghanaians in the Northern region are regarded as being very strong and healthy.

Features of color mentality of the indigenous small nationalities of the Arctic (on the example of the analysis of the traditional Khanty people costume)

The relevance of the presented research is connected with the problem of preserving the mentality, cultural traditions and way of life of small peoples of the Arctic (using the example of the Khanty). In this regard, the most interesting direction of research for us is the symbolism of color in the culture of these peoples, since the color carried a certain sacred meaning, revealing the features of the ethnic groups living in this region. During the study of the color mentality of the ethnic group, chromatic combinations of the traditional female costume of the Khanty were analyzed. According to the authors, the language of color is a non-verbal means of communication; it serves to understand the mentality by interpreting signs and symbols expressed in traditional costumes, symbolically embodying the cosmological model of traditional society. Based on the psychodiagnosis of Max Lüscher, it was found out how much the color preferences in the art of traditional costume reveal the national peculiarities of character and emotional state. To conduct a comparative analysis, the color criteria system has been developed, including primary colors, colors in ornamental symbols and color accents. The authors study the color symbolism in the costume through ethno-psychology, which allows to make sure that the color mentality of the few indigenous Northern ethnic groups of the Khanty is correct. It follows from this that the color mentality of an ethnos expresses a vital position, value orientations, ideological and behavioral stereotypes based on the peculiarities of the emotional state and psyche, which are characteristic of this ethnic group. Thanks to the study of color mentality in the decorative and applied art of the northern, eastern and southern Khanty, the authors revealed not only the peculiarity of the national character and worldview, but also revealed the distinctive features of this people. In this regard, the most interesting area of research for us is the symbolism of color in the culture of these peoples, as the color carried a certain sacred semantic load, revealing the characteristics of the ethnic groups living in this region.

Cultural heritage of the indigenous Arctic peoples of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia)

The article is devoted to the analysis of a little-studied phenomenon of the Arctic peoples of North-East Asia, which is the historical and cultural heritage of the atokhton northern ethnicgroups of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Evens, Evenks, Yukaghirs, Chukchis and Dolgans live in Russia compactly in the extreme climatic, geographical conditions, and also in the special socio-economic realities of the unique Arctic region of the planet. An important factor of their sustainable development in the context of interaction between different cultures, especially global, post-industrial and traditional, is the creation of a favorable terms for traditional lifestyles and traditional economic activities, which are based on the full harmony and interaction of the human community and nature. Under these conditions, the most important, obvious and relevant is the study of the life and work of the peoples of the circumpolar Arctic in the mainstream of the scientific direction created by the academician D.S. Likhachev named as “ecology of culture”. In the present article, the subject of the close attention and research are both the objects and issues of the environmental protection (ecology of nature), and the material and spiritual culture of society (human ecology). The preservation, development and revival of the native language and culture of the Arctic ethnic groups of the Sakha Republic is an important requirement for ensuring the stability of the ethnic traditions. Russian scientists and explorers of the North actively worked in this direction and contributed into Philology, Folklore and Ethnography of the indigenous Arctic peoples of Yakutia and adjacent regions of the Russian Federation. The joint project of the Institute for Humanities Research and Indigenous Studies of the North, Russian Academy of Science, Siberian Branch and the Institute of the Peoples of the North of Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia “Monuments of ethnic culture of indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East” successfully continues researchers of the Arctic in the XXI century. It is noteworthy that the main part of the project participants are the representatives from among the indigenous peoples of the North; they conduct such kind of research, which combines their life experience and scientific knowledge.

The Ongoing Crisis in Côte d’Ivoire: The Historic Responsibility of Félix Houphouët-Boigny

This article argues that the root causes of the conflict can be traced back to the leadership of Félix Houphouët-Boigny, the first President of the independent, post-colonial nation. Houphouët-Boigny failed to successfully manage a leadership transition from his generation to the next. During his three decades of rule, there were no plans made for his succession. When he ultimately died in office, the result was political, economic, and social instability. Consequently, the country was plunged into ongoing crises and conflicts. President Houphouët-Boigny had been the dominant political force of Côte d’Ivoire. His political skills made the country one of the most stable in the continent. Despite the rise of opposition from students, teachers, trade unionists and northern ethnic groups – all of whom were resentful of the southerner’s dominance of government, Houphouët-Boigny was able to restore calm through political dialogue. In 1987, Houphouët-Boigny’s advanced age – he was at least 81- contributed to the succession issue’s centrality in Ivorian politics. However, Houphouët-Boigny manipulated the Constitution. This caused frustration and set the stage for Houphouet-Boigny to remain in his role for the remainder of his life, despite a massive demonstration in Abidjan on May 31st, 1991, where 20,000 protesters chanted for ‘Houphouët-Boigny to resign.’ Consequently, a public leadership contest after Houphouët-Boigny’s passing reopened old wounds among interest groups which sought more economic and political power. This triggered the country’s ongoing crisis.

Polyethnicity modern Russia

The concepts of "nation", "ethnicity", "ethnicity", "indigenous peoples" from the standpoint of different sciences. Determines main directions of the problem of preservation of the northern ethnic groups and their cultures. It expands to the current state of development of ethnic identity in the Russian Federation.