Lyudmila ZHUKOVA

This article analyzes materials about shamanism, contained in legends, stories and folk tales of Yukaghir-hunters of the upper Kolyma, institute of which officially got lost in the first half of the twentieth century. It also analyzes functional importance of the shaman as mediator between men and world of supernatural creatures, shaman-healer and shamandefender from enemies. Attention is also paid to the personal qualities of the shaman. The main sources of the study are comprised of the notes taken by the Pioneer researcher in this area (end of XIX – beginning of XX centuries), İ.A.İokhelson, and the compilation tapes produced by İ.A.Nikolayev and the writer of this study on old Yukaghir in the late twentieth century.

Key words: Siberia, Yukaghir, shaman, functions, shamanism, folklore.