Ethnic groups of Russia: Yakuts

The Yakuts are the largest group of indigenous people of Siberia and the Far East. More than 478,000 live in Russia today, primarily in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). Their language belongs to the Turkic language family.

Russians call these people ‘Yakuts’, but they call themselves ‘Sakha’, meaning ‘white’ or ‘sunny’. The white, polar sun is even depicted on the official flag of the Republic.

A significant number of Yakuts still practice the traditional ‘Aar Aiyy’ faith, according to which three worlds exist: those of humans, deities and evil spirits. They are united by a sacred tree called Aal Luuk Mas. In honor of the deities, the ‘Ysyakh’ festival is held every summer in Yakutia.

Yakuts enjoy ‘stroganina’ – thinly sliced ​​frozen fish – as well as ‘khaan’ sausage, made from beef or horse blood. They also drink ‘kumys’ (mare horse milk) and, for dessert, they prefer ‘kerchekh’, whipped cream topped with northern berries.