Chief Researcher (Ph. D. H. Sc.), Department of the North and Siberia,
Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences
Anna Sirina
Evens.
Surrounding society and main economic activities of the region of residence.
The proportion of Evens in the total size of the population in the areas where they live hardly ever makes a majority, they live side by side with other dominating ethnic groups. Two thirds of Evens are dispersed in ethnically mixed environments, and in many cases their ratio among locals is fairly low. This is especially true about cities, but cities are where most Even intelligentsia and various non-governmental organisations are concentrated.
In the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) there are 995,685 residents, 60 percent of them are Yakuts (Sakha), 26 percent are Russians and other ethnic groups, the minority ethnic groups of the North are represented by Yukaghirs, Evenki, Chukchi, Dolgans. The industrial structure of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) includes extraction of mineral resources (84 percent), processing industry (diamond processing, forest and timber industry) (5 percent), electric power, gas, water (10 percent), agriculture (1 percent). There is no industry in Abyiski, Olenekski, Momski, Eveno-Bytantayski Districts. Tomponski and Verkhnekolymski Destricts specialise in extracting coal for use within the republic; in Oymyakonski, Verkhoaynski and Ust-Yanski Districts they mine for non-ferrous ores and produce concentrates (of gold, tin, and antinomy). Northern and north-eastern district produce meat (venison), but their proportion does not go about 1 percent. Fishing industries are concentrated in the north of the republic, in Allaikhovski, Bulunski, Zhiganski, Nizhnekolymski, Srednekolymski and Uts-Yanski Districts (the aggregate share of their catch is 90 percent).
The population of Magadan Oblast is 145 thousand people, the majority are Russians, the minority ethnic groups of the North are represented by Koryaks, Yukaghirs, Chukchi, Evens, Kamchadals, Itelmens, Chuvans, Orochi. The principal industries are mining industry (60 percent of the total volume of production), power industry (up to 20 percent) and food industry (catching and processing fish). Transport and communication industries are well developed. The industrial structures are dominated by gold- and silver-mining industries. These deposits are not far from Evens’ and Koryaks’ camping grounds. The Okhotsk sea shelf is being reconnoitred for oil and gas.
There are 1,293 thousand people living in Khabarovsk Krai, Russians make 1,047 thousand of them, the minority ethnic groups of the North are represented by Evenki, Evens, Negidals, the Nanai, the Ulchi, the Udege. The economy is diversified, there is gold- and coal-mining, industrial fishing, wood procurement. In Okhotsk District of Khabarovsk Krai, the area of Even residence, there are mines at the Yurievsk gold deposits.
There 291,705 people living in Kamchatka Krai, 80 percent of them are Russians. The minority ethnic groups are represented by Koryaks, Itelmens, Kamchadals, Evens, Chukchi. The leading economic sectors of the area are agriculture, forestry, fishing and fish-farming (30.1 percent), extracting mineral resources (5.3 percent); processing industries (5 percent). There are plans to develop the Shanuch deposit fields for copper, cobalt and nickel, in Penzhinsky District, they are working on developing the Ametistovoye gold deposit.
The fishing grounds next to Kamchatka Krai are a source of 5 types of salmonids and over 40 species of sea objects. Nearly all the rivers in Kamchatka Krai are important fishing grounds. In 2022, the fishing companies of Kamchatka Krai caught 1,405,100 tons of aquatic biological resources.
In 2022, the network of designated conservation areas in Kamchatka Krai included 91 objects, with 4 of them being federally significant territories and 87 being regionally important. (5 national parks, 14 wildlife sanctuaries, 68 natural landmarks). In Bystrinkski District, Evens take part in developing ecological and ethnic tourism.
The population of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug is 47,490 people, 25,510 of them being Russians, the minority ethnic groups are represented by Chukchi, Eskimos, Evens, Yukahgirs. Most mining companies of the Chukotka AO are in Bilibinski District, area of residence for Evens and the Chukchi.