Sakhalin Island is the largest island of Russia, located in the Far East, washed by the waters of the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk. It stretches for 948 kilometers in length and if you look at it from above it resembles fish shape. Since old times, the Sakhalin peoples called the island Ykh-Myth — Fish Island. The first inhabitants of the island — Nivkh, Ainu, and Uilta — lived side by side and in many ways their cultures were similar: they believed in spirits, revered animals, especially bears, went fishing, gathering, Uilta bred deer. The 20th century with its wars and revolutions became a period of fundamental changes for these peoples. These peoples faced the threat of losing their identity after experiencing the influence of two empires, the Russian (then the Soviet) and the Japanese, they were forced to accept collectivization and transition from a traditional way of life to a settled one. They became marginalized among the island’s predominantly Slav Russian population and lost their usual way of life.

Nowadays, the region is home to four main indigenous peoples of the north: Nivkh, Uilta, Evenks and Nanai who migrated in the 1950s. These peoples have assimilated and integrated into Russian society, the younger generation’s dream is mastering modern professions in the field of IT, many of them have Russian families, they almost lost the identity they have always been proud of. Since the 1990s small nations have begun to revive ancestral farms. However, they have not yet succeeded in restoring full culture and traditions. Nevertheless, it would be a mistake to assume that no efforts are being made to preserve culture and rights by these peoples. Despite the difficulties, they continue to preserve and develop their culture, language and traditions. Nivkh language is taught as an optional subject in kindergardens and schools in Nekrasovka and Nogliki villages, same Uilta language in Poronaysk. Conferences and ethnographic expeditions are regularly held, books and textbooks are published in native languages. Activists and organizations hold festivals, national holidays and revive traditional crafts, even if not on a large scale, but in the form of a family farm.

For hundreds of years, the indigenous peoples of the north have had to fight for their own survival. Modern challenges such as environmental problems, climate change, globalization are perceived by them as further signs of the need to preserve respect for nature and the heritage of their ancestors. Faith in the forces of nature inspires them to protect their culture and traditions, as they are convinced that preserving natural harmony is the key to their survival and well—being in the future.