Harvesting of Siberian Pine Nuts in Mountain Shoria: Traditions and Nowadays

Harvesting of Siberian Pine Nuts in Mountain Shoria: Traditions and Nowadays

The article characterises harvesting of Siberian pine nuts by the Shor people, one of the indigenous minorities of the Russian Federation inhabiting Kemerovo Oblast. The distribution area of the Shor coincides with the ecological optimum of Siberian pine in Northern Asia. Harvesting of pine nuts is a part of traditional nature management by the Shor and even today it preserves its archaic features. Nut harvesting income is an important part of the family budget for many Shor families. Preservation and development of Siberian pine nut picking is considered to be a basis for the preservation of traditional culture of Mountain Shoria, as well as a strengthening of the regional economy.

Keywords: Shor people, indigenous minorities of Russia, traditional culture, harvesting of Siberian pine nuts.