Institute of Problems of Northern Indigenous Peoples, Yakutsk, Russian Federation

Language policy and language building

When the USSR collapsed the new principles of national policy began to form in the Russian Federation. These changes touched also the language life in Russia. But many regions started to introduce a new orientation in language policy, to work out its scientific, legislative basis earlier. Already in 1986 they began to discuss the ways of development of peoples of Russia and the need of working out a conception of continuous systematic education in Northern indigenous languages as a main way of revival and preservation of these languages which were in danger of disappearance.

On October 25, 1991 the Law on languages of the peoples of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and the "Declaration on languages of the peoples of Russia were adopted. The article 3 of the Law established the Russian language as a national language in all territory of Russia. The status of the other language was to be decided by the Republics of the Russian Federation which had the right to declare any language besides Russian language as a national language.

The Declaration on Languages of the Peoples of the Russian Federation and the Law "On Languages of the Peoples of the Russian Federation" were first to declare that the languages of the peoples of Russia are a national wealth of Russia, a historical and cultural legacy, are protected by the State which is responsible for its preservation and development.

Nevertheless one should note that here the law legalized the situation which had been established already in several republics. Thus already in September, 1990 the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) adopted the Declaration on State Sovereignty of the Republic which declared the national status of the Sakha (Yakut) and Russian languages and the official status of the languages of Northern indigenous peoples. The Constitution of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) which was adopted on April 4, 1992 established a national status of Russian and Sakha (Yakut) languages and an official status of Northern indigenous languages in the areas of their residence (Article 46). In May 1993 the Sakha Republic’s Supreme Soviet adopted the Sakha Republic’s Conception of National Programme on Revival, Preservation and Development of Languages of Northern Indigenous Languages.

In May 1991 the Sakha Republic Government adopted the conception and programme of development of national schools which says that the main principle of conception is to realize the democratic and constitutional right of schoolchildren to study in their native language. At present the children in 31 schools in 15 Districts of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) study their native languages including children in 17 schools study Even language, in 12 schools – Evenki language, in 2 schools – Yukagir language, in 1 school – Chukchee language. In the 1999-2000 academic year the native language was taught by 33,7% of the Northern indigenous children including 47,8% of Even children, 24,5% of Evenki children, 80,9% of Yukagir children. To study native languages in all schools in the Northern indigenous areas is introduced slowly because of the lack of indigenous language speaking teachers and of absence of educational literature.

Therefore they began to train specialists (teachers of kindergartens and primary schools). The Even, Evenki and Yukagir groups were opened at the teachers training colleges in Yakutsk. The Sub-faculty of Northern Philology was established at the Philological Faculty of the Yakutsk State University. The Sakha Republic’s Districts where the Northern indigenous peoples live began to publish newspapers in native languages. The Sakha Republic Association of Northern Indigenous Peoples has its own newspaper, Ilkan. From 1991 Rozovaya Chaika, the first journal for northerners is published which has Evenki, Even, Yukagir issues. The Gevan television programme and broadcasting station works regularly. In 1991 the Institute of Problems of Northern Indigenous Peoples (Siberian Department, Russian Academy of Sciences) was established. One of priority directions of research of the Institute are philological issues.