The Telengits of Southern Siberia: Landscape, Religion and Knowledge in Motion

by Agnieszka Halemba

In a new and engaging study, Halemba explores the religion and world outlook of the Telengits of Altai. The book provides an account of the Altai, its peoples, clans and political structures, focusing particularly on on the Telengits, whilst also considering the different elements of religious belief exhibited among these native peoples. Paradoxically, as the demand for national recognition grows among such people, and with it the need for more formal state structures, built around the nation, religion too begins to become formalized, and loses its natural, all-pervasive character. With the Telengits, whose natural religion includes elements of Buddhism, this takes the form of a debate as to whether the state religion of their polity is to be Buddhism or, contrary to the character of shamanism, a formal, structured, fixed shamanism. This is a comprehensive anthropological account of the contemporary religious life of the Telengits, holding important implications for wider debates in sociology and politics.

236 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2006

Reviews

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and critically informed ethnography of the Telengits, based on field research conducted in the Republic of Altai by the author in the 1990s. It examines the influence of many trends common to post-Socialist and post-Soviet contexts within and without Russia--such as the role of Houses of Culture, civil society organizations, nationalist movements, and the growth of tourism. As such it will be of interest to anyone working in Russian, East European, or Central/Inner Asian contemporary studies.

At the same time, Halemba's major focus is upon mobility, ritual, and ways of knowing. Her examination of the landscape of Altai and its significance to its inhabitants engages deeply with other anthropological work on mobile pastoralism in Inner Asia, especially Caroline Humphrey's writings on Mongolia. Complementing this approach is her examination of religion in Altai, which contrasts the efforts of nationalists and intellectuals to establish Buddhism as a source of unity and institutional authority with the flexible, debated, and ever-changing practices sustained by the Telengits themselves. While critical of the -ism attached to shamans and their practices, Halemba nonetheless examines the activities of shamans (kam) and other 'people who know' in great depth. For this reason, those interested in comparative religion will also find this book valuable and informative.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I should write a proper review of this, given that the region is my area of expertise, but it took me a LONG time to finish this book and I don't have time to go back and reread it at this point.

It is a very helpful (and highly academic) discussion of the Telengit's approach to landscape, religion, and knowledge and the author helpfully extended it where possible into a discussion of the Altaians generally. I would be very interested in reading an update now that it's been a decade since it was published. I'm not a social scientist, but given the time I've spent there with native Altaians, I generally agree with her main points and conclusions.

It'd be very interesting to get the author's perspective on the new AruSvaty Center for the Formation and Generation of Traditional Knowledge that is being launched this year in the Karakol Valley.

Off to look for more of her writing...