Russia is |
Peoples of Russia
Telengits
Telengits are a Siberian people or a subethnos of the Altaians. In 2000, the Telengits were included into the category of the native small-numbered people of the Russian Federation. Previously they were numbered among the Altaians. They were listed as an independent people for the first time in the 2002 census.
Language
They speak one of the southern dialects of the Altaian language of the Turkic branch of the Altai language family.
Dispersion
They live in the territory of the Republic of Altai (Kosh-Agach and Ulagan districts).
Traditional occupations
The basis of sustenance of the Telengits who have brought under cultivation the high-mountain valleys of Altai is the semi-nomadic distant pasture cattle breeding; the herd includes horses, small and large cattle, yaks and sarliks. The Telengits have preserved the technologies of making patterned felts, which they use in decorating traditional and modern dwellings.
Food
The character of the traditional cuisine is determined by the products of cattle breeding; it is oriented towards the dairy and meat diet with addition of grits and wild plants.
