The tundra exodus: urbanization and mobility of the inhabitants of the Arctic villages of Yakutia in the 1960-1970s

The article examines the relatively understudied in historiography issues of rural urbanization in the Arctic regions of Yakutia in the 1960s and 1970s. The processes of industrialization of the Yakut Arctic, which caused an increased influx of industrial labour, as well as reforms in the organization of production and settlement in territories traditionally inhabited by small indigenous peoples of the North, are highlighted. It emphasizes the forcing of socio-economic and demographic change in rural communities, which is associated with the formation of a new ethno-cultural landscape and the opening up of opportunities for social mobility. The following trends in the mobility of indigenous people in the Arctic villages have been noted: new vocational orientations, increased material and cultural needs, and a corresponding shift towards settlements with a higher standard of living. It is pointed out that among the new social opportunities, broad access to the educational and cultural resources of large villages and cities has proved to be the most sought-after.