Ethnicity through institutions: invisible rules and visible practices on the example of mono-ethnic organization of Eskimos

The article explores the phenomenon of ethnicity in the constructivist paradigm and its relation to the institutions of ethnic identity preservation. Using the example of the mono-ethnic organization Inuit Circumpolar Council of Chukotka (Russian office of the international Inuit Circumpolar Council), the authors analyze the mechanisms of maintaining and preserving the ethnicity of the Chukotka Eskimos. The empirical basis of the article is the results of the research, including 22 depth interviews with representatives of the Eskimos, including activists of the ICC Chukotka organization, leaders of ethno-cultural collectives, deputies and elders. The conceptual language of Kanchan Chandra, which views ethnicity through the rules of membership in an ethnic category and the attributes associated with ethnicity (language, traditions, phenotype, etc.), is used as a theoretical framework. The results of the study are presented, indicating that Chukotka Eskimos have no strict rules for the transmission of ethnicity through the paternal or maternal line, which is associated with traditional ideas of reincarnation and free will. A direct correlation was found between the rule of membership in the Chukotka Eskimo ethnic category and the conditions of membership in the Inuit Circumpolar Council of Chukotka, which formally makes all Chukotka Eskimos part of the organization. In practice, however, many are unaware of its existence, and only those who consciously support ethno-cultural practices actively participate. The authors conclude that ethnicity institutions (such as public organizations) play a key role in the construction and maintenance of ethnic identity, influencing the self-identification of individuals and the production of ethnic attributes. The article emphasizes the need to study ethnicity in conjunction with institutionalized practices that shape its visible manifestations.