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Peoples of Russia
Chelkans
Chelkans (Chalkans) are a people living in the Altai. In 2000, by the decree of the Government they were given the status of native small-numbered people.
Language
The language of the Chelkans, together with the Kumandy and Tubalar languages, is usually classed among the northern dialects of the Altai language, which are included in the Khakas subgroup of the Uyghur-Oghuz group of the Turkic languages.
Dispersion
Currently Chelkans mostly live in the villages Kurmach-Baygol, Suranash and Maysky, as well as in Chuyka, Biyka and some other settlements of the Turochak district of the Republic of Altai, out of which only the first two have a predominantly Chelkan population. A significant number of Chelkans lives in the large settlements of the republic: in the Turochak village and in Gorno-Altaysk, as well as outside of the Republic of Altai in the Tashtagol district of the Kemerovo region and in Khakasia.
National costume
The clothes were specialized. Felt clothes were used to go hunting. The elements of the hunting costume were a half-spheric hat, a robe (kiis), a vest (nengzhok) and stockings (uuk). Besides these, a necessary part of the hunting clothes were the boots (odok) made from well-curried horse leather, which consisted of sackcloth or leather bootlegs and separately cut head and sole.
Traditional occupations
The main fields of economic activities of the Chelkans were hunting and hoe farming, fishing and foraging. For economic needs, horses were used and some kinds of domestic cattle was bred in very limited amounts. Under the influence of the Russian population, beekeeping and kitchen gardening appeared.
