Yupik in Russia

The Yupik have only been reported in Russia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Naukan Yupik are an Eskimo people who live in northeast Siberia along the Bering Sea. They make their living by fishing salmon and harvesting sea mammals like seals, walruses and whales. There is archeological evidence that shows that they have lived this way for thousands of years. Slowly the modern world is changing the Naukan Yupik's lives. Snowmobiles are replacing dogsleds and their cone shaped tents are giving way to modern homes with electricity and diesel oil. High-powered rifles are used to hunt animals rather than spears and harpoons.

Russian is becoming the primary language of the Naukan Yupik. The Naukan Yupik language is seriously endangered. There are only about 70 living speakers, all over 40 years old. Unless drastic measures are taken, in a few years the Naukan Yupik language will become another one of the dead languages of Siberia.


Where Are they Located?

The Naukan Yupik live in the Russian Far East along the Bering Sea.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Naukan Yupik still live a semi-nomadic lifestyle following the salmon and sea mammals. Some of them who do not live on the immediate coast raise caribou. These Yupik migrate along with their caribou herds. Most of the Yupik's diet consists of meat, blubber, fish and whatever berries and edible plants they can gather during Siberia's short summers. They are also now able to trade their surplus of salmon and animal skins for necessities like canned goods, electricity and diesel oil for heating their homes in the long, very cold winters.

Village elders make the important decisions and for the people. Most Yupik consult a shaman before seeking out modern medical help.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of the Yupik cling to their ancient folk religion. Good and evil spirits inhabit all aspects of nature. The Yupik pray and make an offering to the sea before taking any seals, walruses and whales. Parts of the animals are returned to the sea so that the animals taken by them will be replaced.

The Yupik have the interesting custom of naming a baby for the last person to die in the village. They believe the dead person's spirit is reincarnated in the baby.

There is a small group of Russian Orthodox and Protestant believers among the Yupik.


What Are Their Needs?

The Yupik need to hear a clear presentation of the gospel and what it means to serve God. The Yupik would benefit by medical and educational workers coming to their villages. Linguists could study and help preserve the disappearing Kaukan Yupik language.


Prayer Points

Pray that the small number of Yupik believers would live lives dedicated to the Lord and walk in His ways.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Yupik people love for God's Word and a desire to spread its influence.
Pray for workers needed to sow God's Word into Yupik families, healing and strengthening households with God's blessings.


Scripture Prayers for the Yupik, Naukan in Russia.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naukan_people
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yupik
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Yupik
https://www.ethnologue.com/language/ynk


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Yupik, Naukan
People Name in Country Yupik, Naukan
Natural Name Yupik
Alternate Names Naukan Eskimo
Population this Country 500
Population all Countries 500
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 16072
ROP3 Code 111124
ROP25 Code 309068
ROP25 Name Yupik
Country Russia
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Asia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Nunyamo, Uelen, and Lavrentiya villages.   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 Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Nunyamo, Uelen, and Lavrentiya villages..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.80 %)
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 Russian
Language Code rus   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Yupik, Naukan
Primary Language Russian
Language Code rus   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Yupik, Naukan
People Groups Speaking Russian

Primary Language:  Russian

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1815-1993)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1821-1991)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1875-2023)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Russian Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source Joshua Project / Global Mapping International  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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