The Dolgans (Долганы in Russian; self-designation: долган, тыа-кихи, саха) are a Turkic people, who inhabit the Taymyria region in the Krasnoyarsk Krai in Russia. The 2002 Russian census, counted 7,261 dolgans. This number included 5,517 in Taymyria. There are 26 Dolgans in Ukraine, 4 of whom speak Dolgani. (2001 Ukr. Cen.)

Linguists believe that the Dolgans speak a dialect of the Yakut language, called Dolgan. Dolgan identity emerged in the 19th – early 20th century, when some of the Evenks, Yakuts, Enets and the so-called Tundra peasants migrated to this region away from the Lena River and Olenyok River. Originally, the Dolgans were nomadic reindeer breeders and hunters. They eventually settled down and formed kolkhozes during the Soviet times, engaging in reindeer breeding, hunting, fishing, dairy farming as well as market gardening).

Most Dolgans belong to the Russian Orthodox Church. Old animistic beliefs, however, are also prevalent among them.

See also

• Dolgan language

Ethnic groups in Russia | Turkic peoples | Indigenous peoples of North Asia

Dolganen | 돌간인 | Dolganci | Dolganen | Dołganie | Долгани | Dolgani