The concept of cultural heritage in the ethnic-national discourse of the Altai Republic

Currently, the role and place of the historical-cultural heritage in the social life have been reconsidered everywhere in the Russian Federation including the Altai Republic. Constructing of the new regional and ethnic identity is accompanied by references of national elites to images of the past. Nations try to sanctify their present identity with the help of such terms as «memory», «heritage» and «anniversary celebration». The study is based on the archival documents, publications of local periodicals and field materials collected in Chemal and Ust-Kan Districts of the Altai Republic. The article deals with the activities of regional cultural institutions (museums and ethno-cultural centers) and the role of social and religious organizations in forming of images of the past, preservation and dissemination of historical and cultural heritage of the region. Analyses of ethnic-national discourses made it possible to distinguish the following types of modern commemorative practices: antiquating of ethnic culture, identification of one’s own ethnic group with the local archaeological cultures, expanding of ethnic and political boundaries in spatial and temporal frameworks, revival of the sacred places and creation of the new ones.