2008
Vladivostok CG Visits Udege Village Krasniy Yar
U.S. Consul General traveled to Krasniy Yar to the north of Vladivostok on December 10-12 and stayed with an indigenous family from the Udege minority. The Udege share Krasniy Yar with members of the Nenets, Chukchi, and Orochi indigenous people. At present, some 650 people reside in the town; the eldest resident is 87 years old. Traditionally, the Udege are hunters. Today a snowmobile is more important for them than a vehicle, since the taiga with its sable, squirrel, and other animals is the source of life and livelihood. CG met with chair of the local community Vladimir Shirko, who was open and direct about the town’s challenges. Shirko is a strong supporter of preserving Udege culture and language. CG also visited the high school, where the school folk group put on a display of traditional dance. To supplement the local economy, USAID has provided seed money for the handicraft business. Some local women are finding a market for their hand sewn native souvenirs in Japan. Vladimir Shirko described the USAID project as the first program to have a real impact on the community.