There are so many secrets in the history of Evenkya. They are to be discovered by all of the future generations. The complexity of real events, human lives and political clashes of ancient civilizations lays in the basis of the legends about Northern Land and Northern Man.

Historical and archeological researches snow that the first human-beings on the territory of Evenkya appear in the II century B.C. It took 3 thousand years for ancient people not only to settle Podkamennaya Tunguska dole, but also to occupy the neighbour territories. Ancient settlements were found in the middle stream of Podkamennaya Tunguska.

What made ancient people leave Baikal and Amur areas (historians insist on the idea, that these were their native lands) and go to the severe snow deserts of Euro-Asian Continent? There's a version that Evenks were forced out to the North by martial tribes. But there are mentions in the Ancient Chinese Chronicles about the strongest People among northern and eastern foreigners, who live 4 thousand years earlier than the so-called "forced out". These Chinese Chronicles show that these ancient people (Sushens) are equal to the later Tungusses by lots of indications.

The Chronicles tell in details about these people, living in a severe northern country in cone-like huts (chums), as of perfect hunters and brave warriors who have never been conquered even by the special trained Emperor warriors. But the most important is that in these Chronicles there are narrations of Sushens - as dexterous 'tracker-up-the-deer", as people who had made deer to be a domestic animal.

In the later Chronicles we can follow the development of the Sushens' (the Uans, the Uanks) descendants, united into the Empire, that in the beginning of the VI century was called The Golden Empire. It consisted of some free tribes of the Uanks. Obviously the name of the modern northern territory and its inhabitants comes from these tribes.

The Golden Empire bordering on China, repulsing attacks of Mongolian ancestors - The Kidans, nevertheless occupied the huge territory - modern Korea, Okhotskoye Sea Coast, Zabaykalye and some northern lands. And the most important thing is that all the people spoke common language. Moreover they had writing and cultural centres. That was proved by the archeological researches.

The Golden Empire at the same time with Kievskaya Rus fell under the hooves of Tchingis-Khan's cavalry. But unlike Rus, Empire couldn't have revived. All the cities, literature and culture memorials, even cemeteries were ruined.

The Evenks lost their pre-Motherland. But that doesn't mean, that these people are the people without Past. Spoken poetic works have kept the legends of former greatness. Surprisingly all the Evenks have equal legend heroes despite the fact, that they have been spread wide on the territory from the Pacific Ocean Coast to the Ob-River. Moreover the Evenks succeeded in protecting their writing.

Scientists were stunned - there were ancestors' code of highly moral laws that have been carried through ages as spoken life-rules. Their basic ideas are - friendliness, hospitality, mutual aid, respect to elder generations.

From the history of name and way of life

The origin of the ethnonim "Evenk" comes from "Uvans" - ancient deer-breeders. They were mentioned as the inhabitants of Zabaykalye's Highlands and taiga in Chinese Chronicles of the VII century.

At the same time some of the Evenks groups have their own names -Orochens (Zabaykalye, Priamurye), Illae (hunters and deer-breeders from the Upper Lena and Podkamennaya Tunguska), Killaes (from Lena to Sakhalin), the Solons - "living up the river", the Khamnigans - cattle-breeders. The names of other Evenk groups such as the Birars, the Samagirs, the Manegirs, the Murchens etc. are also widely known.

But in general Evenks as culture groups are not similar. In written sources there are "on-foot" Evenks, "unsettled", "nomads". These names illustrate the chosen way of life and methods of managing - deer-breeding, hunting and fishing.

Cultural peculiarities of different Evenk groups were formed under the influence of neighbour nationalities - the Samodians, the Yakuts, the Buryats.

Evenks have pronounced mongoloid characters with low pigmentation that corresponds to the Baikal type of ancient North-Asian race.

Evenk language is the northern part of the Tungus-Manchzhurian group of languages and has lots of dialects.

From the Russian explorers' chronicles

The first mention of the Tungus as of nationality comes from 1581-1583. It appears in the Siberian Kingdom's description.

Russian explorers, researchers and travelers spoke of Tungusses: helpful without a sign of servility, proud and brave.

Khariton Laptev, who explored the Arctic Ocean Coasts between the Ob and the Olenek, wrote that the Tungusses are the most numerous, courageous and cleverest among northern tribes.

Beeing in exile V. Kuechelbecker called them "Siberian aristocracy". The first gouverner of Yenisseysk territory wrote, that "they wear Spanishlike suits "

One shouldn't forget - the first Russian explorers mentioned either that "they use bone and snone spears", there were no metal ware, kitchen utensils, "they boil tea in wooden pots and grill meat on fire:", "they have no iron needles - they make clothes and shoes with done needles and deer tendons".

Annihiliating Tatar-Mongolian plague threw Golden Empire back for thousands of years. Tungus Nomades live in the Stone Age while Russians develop manufacturing and use firearms.

During the second part of the XVI century Russian establishment and hunters having been settled the territories along the rivers Taz, Turukhan and on the mouth of the Yenisey-river.

Even after the appearance of Russian settlements the representatives of both cultural layers contacted just by chance. Basically by means of trade.

In a sense one can understand, that there were no such a thing as "Russian trading theft". Expensive sable-skins had no value among Evenks. Deer-skin clothes meant to be more practicalFrom sable-skins they made blankets and downsides of skis. So the prise of a copper-pot concerned to be equal to the price of all the sables in this pot.

Since then the beginning of interconnection of Russian and Evenk culture took place. Russians were taught to hunt and survive in severe conditions. And married local women.

Essential landmarks of Russian North reclamation

1601 - foundation of Mangazeya - administrative and trade centre

1607 - foundation of winter camp Turukhansk

1607 - first yasak collection

1620-1623 - kazak Nikifor Pyanda from Mangazeya went up the Podkamennaya Tungusska, crossed the Chechuy drag to the Lena-river.

The history is usually based upon official notes. Despite Pyanda was not a civil servant. He was a freelancer. That's why he had no official orders, and in this respect he had made no written reports. There's no even a word of his work in official documents.

He came to Yeniseysk from Central Russia as well as did other strong people of those days. Pyanda had been living there for a couple of years. But then the rumours about "golden" Mangazeya had reached his ears. And he decided to go there by the river and borrowed a large ship and went to Mangazeya.

There he made a decision to explore new lands in the east along the Tunguska River. He was the first who has done it - 370 years ago. The others followed him and in historical documents they are called pioneers. History keeps silent about Pyanda.

XVII (the end ot the 20-ies) - Navatsky and oficials' expedition along the Lower Tunguska and further to the East in Yakutiya.

1625-1634 - foundation of yasak settlements on the Lower Tunguska.

1723 - D.G. Messershmidt's expedition along the Lower Tunguska, the Lena, and further on Baikal for exploration of Siberian people, their languages, description of local flora and fauna.

1763 - Ekatherine the II Manifesto of locals census with order not to make them harm and live in peace.

The first part of the XIX - foundation of administrative territories for the Evenks living on the Lower Tunguska. Drawing the Evenks into Orthodox religion.

The drawing of pagans into Christianity had nothing common with the same process on the American continent. Rassian Orthodox missioners appeared among aborigines from time to time and christened those who had a desire, giving them new names. By the way the change of names didn't contradict local beliefs. Churches in Evenkya were opened later in the end of the XIX century.

1822 - Charter of State administrating in Siberia.

In this period the State of Russia is interested in Tungusses only as in tax-payers.

Epidemics such as smallpox, tuberculosis, trachoma brought by Russians, became the extinction course for aborigines.

1840 - foundation of Ust - Turyzhsky bread reserve, settled 600-700 km up the Lower Tunguska.

1850 - foundation of "Mission for christening"

1853 - 1854 - P.K. Maak's expedition (Russian Geographic Society) explored the the Upper Viluy and Surinda Lake. The expedition made the map of earlier unexplored lands, description of geological peculiarities, landscape ethnographic information about Yakuts and Evenks.

1859 - 1863 - M.K. Sidorov discovered graphite deposites along the rivers Lower Tunguska, Vakhta, Kureyka.

1863 - M.K. Sidorov founded a special school for local children.

The second part of the XIX century - beginning of the commercial and industrial development of the Lower Tunguska. Graphite extractions.

Mikhail Konstantinovich Sidorov was born in 1823 in Archangelsk in a tradesman family. In 1845 he arrived to Krasnoyarsk where got acquainted with Latkin (a gold-field manager ) and became the teacher for his children. Later he married Latkin's daughter Olga.

That was "the golden fever" time in Siberia. Sidorov decided to find gold for the first Siberian High School to be opened.

In 1850 on the Lower Tungusska he discovered rich gold-fields. All the money he got from those fields Sidorov spent on exploration of North and Northern Sea-way.

Sidorov died at 65, being a bankrupt. All his money were spent upon discovereies, research-works and charity.

And as a public figure he will be never forgotten.

1863 - Coal and new graphite deposits discovering.

May, 1873 - A.A. Chekanovsky's expedition (Russian Gtographic Society) along the Lower Tungusska. They drew up an exact map of the region. Moreover they explored graphite deposits, described flora, weather, way of life and peculiarities of Evenks.

1910 - foundation of the first trade house by tradesmen Panov and Savvateev on the place of future settlement Tura.

Soviet Period

In November, 1917 in Evenkya as all over Russia Soviet Power was brought. And they settled an according managing system - Evenkya was under the rule of Turukhansk region executive cometee.

In 1923 Executive Cometee published a local managing regulation in accordance no which every local tribe is ruled by a tribal Council.

But this wasn't something new for Evenks, something that contradicted their ancient principles - from time immemorial there existed tribal Counsils. And for a long time they have been existing in the North as a form of democracy.

Foundation of simple production unions didn't contradict the traditional way of life either: since ancient ages Evenks have been breeding and fishing together. That's why they took the idea of kolkhozes calm and even favourable.

Active founders of tribal Counsils in Tungussko-Chunsky region were executive Committee managers I.K Kochnev, N.V. Efimov, M.I. Ostapkovich. Active representatives of native population were M.I. Shiroglagov, R. Golubchenok, P.V. Tarkichenok, P.T. Yastrikov. Tribal Suglans usually took place in spring after open season.

There were few literate persons among natives. But this question was solved on the State level. Native people got the opportunity to study at the Leningradsky pedagogical institute, faculty of Northern nationalities. The first students of the faculty were N.N. Putugir, P.N. Putugir, N.N. Monakhova, A.N. Kaplin, G.P. Salatkin.

Soon the same faculties were founded in Khabarovsk, Yeniseysk, Krasnoyarsk. There were a kolkhoz-personnel school and a medical college opened in Tura.

Teaching personnel is also actively prepared. But Evenk writing appeared only in 1930.

1930, December, 10 - foundation of Evenkya National district with the administrative centre in Tura.

1941. The War began:

In Summer 1941 hundreds of men from Evenkya went to fight the enemy. Those who stayed at the home front didn't sit with their thumbs. Oldmen, women and children were working hard substituted fathers, husbands and brothers to make the Victory Day come faster.

There were no plants and factories in Evenkya, its inhabitants didn't produce any weapons, wartechnics or ammunition. Evenkya in its turn gave raw materials, food, warm clothes and so on.

The most important mission for Evenkya in war times was getting furs or as it was called "soft gold". The increasing of fur-getting influenced the financial state and defense-capacity of our country.

Every hunter, kolkhoz and territory undertook the concrete obligations in getting furs.

In 1942 Gouvernment appealed to all the hunters of Evenkya:

"Comrades hunters! Give not less than 2000 squirrels per one gun in a season. Use all the hunting methods. Enlarge the getting of Arctic fox, sable, fox, ermine, hare, musquash and other furs. Remember, that your honest work strengthens the fight-power of Red Army and nears the rout of fascist troops."

Postwar years

In 1955-1956 the expedition of the Ministry of Agriculture gave every kolkhoz concrete recommendations yow to use deer-pastures. These were considered to be a progressive system of feed-base organization.

But the kolkhoz enlarging ruined tribal and cultural connections. But that fact wasn't important for Government. Much more important were "kolkhozes-millionaires" and well-equipped settlements that supposingly showed the nomads came to a settled way of life.

Nevertheless, some kolkhozes became the participants of All-Union agricultural exhibition.

At the same time they develop industry in Evenkya. This industry is mainly based on consumer-goods producing, essential goods, articles of domestic use.

In 1950-1960 appeared the notion of "Red Chum". Red chum's personnel worked actively with people in a cultural and educational way. They taught women to cook new dishes, spare money, use sewing-machines.

As cultural and educational offices Red chums were actual up to the 70-ies. In 1974 they were wound up. And their place was taken by more progressive forms of cultural work organization. There were opened 14 culture houses, 3 clubs, 16 libraries, 3 regional teams of propagandists.

In 1992 Evenkya National district became Evenkya Autonomous District, staying as a part of Krasnoyarsk Territory, but at the same time being an independent subject of Russian federation.

The head of the district executive committee Yakimov was nominated the Head of district administration. Suglan of EAD was founded in September 1993. Political processes have been taking place in Russia at that time influenced the social and economical situation in Evenkya. Constant lack of budget lead to the disintegration of the economical connections, industry stagnation, impoverishing of the inhabitants of the territory. Native population lost the opportunity to live their traditional life. Deer-breeding, being the base of regional industry, is not developing. Total number of deer is rapidly reducing.

The first democratic election of the Head of administration took place in 1996. Alexander Bokovikov was elected on the Post. Later he became the first Governor of Evenkya Autonomous district.

Epoch of Evenkya Renaissance

In 2001, April, 8 Boris Zolotaryov was elected on the Post of Governor. Only within 5 years Evenkya made a huge spurt from a destitute past to a stable future. Regular electrical and warmth-supplying were settled as well as Northern supplies. Modern telecommunicative systems and Internet are settled in every settlement. Native population got back the opportunity to live their traditional life. Funds for deer-herd restoring are setting aside. By the way, they conclude work-contracts with deer-breeders.

Thanks to the regional investment program "Building and reconstruction" they begin house building on a large scale, reconstruct old and build new social markable institutions.

Last years more and more people connect their future with the native region. First of all this is connected with the stabilization of the social and economic state in a territory. Moreover with industry developing, appearing of new jobs, enlarging of incomes, improvement of the quality of life.

In 2006, April, 17 all the inhabitants of Evenkya voted for the Union with the Krasnoyarsk territory and Taimyr.

In 2007, January, 1 Evenkya became the part of the Krasnoyarsk territory as a municipal region.