The Currency of the Russian Empire in the Culture of the Yugra Indi- genous Peoples: Practical Aspects of Colonialism and Reflections on Multiculturalism

The present article considers the history of introduction of monetary circulation into the life of the Ob-Ugrian peoples, namely, of the Khanty and Mansi people residing in the territory of Yugra area, in comparative context with the descending from them Siberian Tatars. The authors contest the accepted idea of necessary maintenance of culture of the aboriginal peoples of the North in the initial state since their culture turns to be unable of adapting to changing economic and cultural and historical context which leads to the nation's dying out. By the example of the Siberian Tatars, the authors substantiate a new form of multiculturalism resulting from the interfusion of cultures which turns a favourable factor for adaptation of an autochthonous nation to the state economic policy.