Samoyedic peoples

Samoyedic peoples are several language-related peoples of Siberia, including the Nenets, Enets, Nganasan and Selkup. They live across tundra and forest regions, rather than forming one single community.

Reindeer are central to life in many northern groups, supplying transport, food, hides and materials. Forest communities, including many Selkup, also have strong traditions of fishing and hunting.

Older descriptions record tattoos in some communities, including designs associated with decoration or protection from illness. Animal-like motifs appear in some accounts, but the practices were not shared by everyone across the region.

Hide clothing, ornaments and carefully made equipment add other forms of skilled work. Missionary activity and social change affected different places in different ways. Similarities with ancient Siberian tattoos are interesting, but do not by themselves prove that one tradition continued unchanged for thousands of years.