State policy in the language construction of the indigenous peoples: Yukagir writing (late 1970s-1980s)

The study discusses the history of the creation of the Yukagir written language in the process of implementing the state language policy of the Soviet Union in relation to the indigenous peoples of the North in the late 1970s-1980s. The main regulatory acts that accelerated the process of acquiring the alphabet by non-literate peoples are considered. Particular attention is paid to the history of the study of the Yukagir language. Based on previously unpublished sources, the role of both researchers and authorities in the creation of the Yukagir writing is shown. Despite the disagreements of the scientific community regarding the creation of the Yukagir written language based on the tundra dialect alone, excluding the forest one, this fact played a positive role in preserving the culture of the Yukagirs and the revival of national identity. The creation of writing united the Yukagir people and drew public attention to issues of ethnic culture.