ABSTRACT
Indigenous movements in post-Soviet Russia pursued complex strategies to assert cultural, territorial, and political autonomy amid shifting legal, economic, and political pressures. Neotraditionalism and clan-based obshchiny movements aimed to reclaim cultural practices, protect natural resources, and institutionalize indigenous rights across Siberia. Shamanism became central to ethnic identity, creating “sacred geographies” that linked spirituality to land and reinforced territorial claims. In Yamal, this mobilization was expressed through sacred site preservation and ritual practices, intertwining faith, ecology, and social cohesion. Organizations such as RAIPON initially facilitated advocacy, legal recognition, and international support. Under Putin, however, state control, corporate interests, and NGO restrictions curtailed activism, co-opted organizations, and marginalized grassroots movements, producing a post-Soviet rise followed by decline under authoritarian governance and industrial expansion.
