The Koryak are a small indigenous group of people who live in the northern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East. Their land was taken over and colonized by Russian Cossacks in the late 17th century. Due to a smallpox epidemic and constant warfare, the Koryak population was cut by more than half in the 18th century. The Koryak were forced to pay taxes in furs and sometimes forced to join the Russian Orthodox church.
The Koryak are divided into two distinct clans. One group live on the coast and make their living by fishing and taking marine animals like seals, walruses and small whales. They live in settled villages. The men are frequently gone on fishing and hunting trips. Women gather berries and roots in the short summers to supplement their diet of meat and fat. Other Koryak live in the interior of Kamchatka Peninsula and follow their herds of reindeer throughout the year. They utilize the entire body of the reindeer for clothing, tents, tools, and meat. Both groups of Koryak are gradually coming into the modern world. They sell reindeer, meat and skins for things they cannot make for themselves like cell phones, tools, snowmobiles, gasoline, small appliances and plant foods. Snowmobiles are now more common than reindeer and dog sleds. Koryaks travel in family bands of six to nine individuals. The head of the band makes decisions with the consent of the rest of the family. Animal skin clothing is slowly changing to more modern winter Russian clothes. It is possible that in the next few decades that the Koryak language and culture may disappear. More and more young people prefer to speak Russian. They often move away from the Koryak homeland to look for better economic and educational opportunities. May native Siberian languages have become extinct as more people become "Russified."
The great majority of the Koryak practice folk religion. They believe that spirits inhabit the objects of nature. The sea, rocks, rivers, sky, and animals all possess a spirit. If the spirits are pleased, food is plentiful. If the spirits are offended, they can bring illness and scarcity. The village shaman connects the Koryak to the spirit world. The shaman provides charms, offerings and rituals that provide protection for the people. A small fraction of the Koryak claims to be members of the Russian Orthodox Church. Some Bible portions are available in the Koryak language.
The Koryak need to hear a clear presentation of the gospel in a way they can understand. They need to be freed from their belief in and fear of natural spirits. Medical and veterinary teams could come to Kamchatka and meet the physical needs of the Koryaks and their animals.
Pray the Lord sends workers to tell the Koryak about Jesus and His love for them. Pray the entire Bible becomes available in the Koryak language. Ask the Lord to begin a Disciple Making Movement among the Koryak people in this decade. Pray that the few Koryak believers would grow in the faith and demonstrate the life of Christ to their families and friends.
Scripture Prayers for the Koryak, Nymylan in Russia.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Koryak-people http://russiasperiphery.blogs.wm.edu/russias-north-siberia-and-the-steppe/general/koryaks/ https://www.refworld.org/docid/49749cbcc.html https://alaska.si.edu/culture_ne_siberian.asp?subculture=Koryak&continue=1
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Koryak |
People Name in Country | Koryak, Nymylan |
Natural Name | Koryak |
Alternate Names | Koriak; Koryaks; Nymylan |
Population this Country | 7,500 |
Population all Countries | 7,500 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 12806 |
ROP3 Code | 105249 |
Country | Russia | ||
Region | Europe, Eastern and Eurasia | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||
Location in Country | Kamchatka, north half of peninsula, south of the Chukchi [ckt] language area; also in Magadanskaya Oblast’. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Russia |
Region | Europe, Eastern and Eurasia |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | No |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Location in Country | Kamchatka, north half of peninsula, south of the Chukchi [ckt] language area; also in Magadanskaya Oblast’.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.88 %) |
5.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
95.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Koryak (7,500 speakers) |
Language Code | kpy Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Unknown |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Koryak (7,500 speakers) |
Language Code | kpy Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Koryak |
Primary Language: Koryak
Bible Translation Status: Unspecified
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Text / Printed Matter | IBT, Russia - resources | Institute for Bible Translation - Russia |
Photo Source | Natalia Kollegova - Pixabay |
Map Source | Peoples of the Red Book |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |