YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, March 19 - RIA Novosti, Pyotr Tsyrendorzhiyev. A festival of the indigenous ethnic groups of the North will be held on Sakhalin island from March 19 to 21. As the administration of the Sakhalin Region (the Russian Federation's Far-Eastern federal district) said, cultural and sports activities will be staged within the decade of the world's indigenous peoples which is being marked by the world community.
The Nivkhi, Evenks, Nanais, and Orochi (they name themselves "uyilta") are the indigenous peoples on Sakhalin. Their aggregate numerical strength is in excess of 3,000.
The festival's program contains traditional sports competitions - reindeer and dog teams' races, jumping over sledges, and axe throwing. Besides that, the entrants will compete in whipping and lassoing reindeer.
National artistic companies will perform before the "Northern Festival's" guests and participants. Clothes and footwear, made of salmon skin, and articles made of bones of sea animals and reindeer horns will be on display at the exhibition of products of folk handicrafts.
