ABSTRACT

Chukchi are indigenous people who live in Chukchi Peninsula, the coat of the Chukchi Sea, and the Bering Sea within boundaries of Russia. Chukchi are known for several folklore traditions. This project will focus on Chukchi oral tradition. The oral tradition consists of tales, proverbs, and anecdotes. The tales attempt to explain the creation of the world and people, the relationship between people and animals, and the special role of Shamans who are believed to have the power to influence the lives of people through rituals. It is especially interesting that different tales have different explanations of the creation of the world.