Description
Book SynopsisAt the outset of the twentieth century, the Nivkhi of Sakhalin Island were a small population of fishermen under Russian dominion and an Asian cultural sway. This book draws upon Nivkh interviews, archives, and translated Soviet ethnographic texts to examine the effects of this remarkable state venture in the construction of identity.
Trade Review"This book is a comprehensive study of the impact of successive Russian 'perestroikas' of the Nivkh people... from 1925 to 1994. It's chief objective is to gauge the damage done to Nivkh culture by their Russian overlords. The author approaches his task with great thoroughness and ... profound involvement... His account is as warmly humorous as it is skillful."--History
Table of ContentsList of IllustrationsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsNote on Transliteration and TerminologyList of Abbreviations1Introduction32Rybnoe Reconstructed183Nivkhi before the Soviets4041920s and the New Order685The Stalinist Period9061960s Resettlements and the Time of Stagnation1207Perestroika Revisited: On Dissolution and Disillusion1448Conclusions: The Subjects Presumed to Know156Appendix: "A Recently Discovered Case of Group Marriage"165Notes169Bibliography191Index223
