Chelkans

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The Chelkans, also called Chalkandu or Shalkandu, are a small Turkic Indigenous people of Siberia, Russia. They mainly live in the Altai Republic, with some in Kemerovo Oblast. In 2010 there were 1,181 Chelkans in Russia.

Language and identity
- They speak the Chelkan language, which is often considered a dialect of Northern Altai.
- In 2002 the Chelkan language was counted as a separate language (about 2,000 speakers); in 2010 it was not counted separately. A writing system was developed in 2014.
- Chelkans in the Altai Republic are sometimes grouped with Altai people, while those in Kemerovo Oblast are grouped with Shors. Officially, they are recognized as a separate Indigenous group in some government records.

History
- The Chelkans formed from the mixing of Turkic clans with Ket, Samoyed, and other Siberian groups.
- Their region was once ruled by Yenisei Kygryz, then the Mongols (13th–18th centuries), briefly the Dzungars, and finally Russians.

Culture and daily life
- Traditionally, they hunted local animals and, from the 19th century, also gathered cedar nuts.
- Dwellings included polygonal yurts made of bark or logs with conic bark roofs; other conic yurts were made of bark or perches.
- Traditional dress featured short breeches, linen shirts, and single-breasted robes.

Religion
- Today many Chelkans are Russian Orthodox, but Burkhanism and shamanism are also present among them.

Related groups
- Khakas, Kumandins, Shors, and Teleuts.