Tofalar in Russia

The Tofalar have only been reported in Russia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Tofalar people are also known as the Tofa or Tof people. Their language is Turkic based, but it is also related to the languages of other local tribes.

Until the communist era, the Tofalar people were reindeer herders and hunters. They never developed modern ways of trapping game; instead they relied on pitfalls.

Their families were patrilineal, meaning that they traced their descent from the father's line. They did not marry within the same clan. They were nomads, and each clan herded in a particular place. At times they worked together for their common needs.

Their food included the milk and meat from reindeer as well as meat from geese, ducks, and wild animals that they hunted. Part of their economy has been related to furs and skins. They would trade furs and skins for flour, alcohol, salt, sugar, tea, and cloth.


Where Are they Located?

The Tofalar people live in the eastern Sayan Mountains near the Nenet people.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Russian communists put a stop to their traditional lifestyle and forced them on to permanent villages with Russian-style wood houses. This situation allowed them to farm potatoes and other root vegetables. Today they are involved with cooperative fur farming. Others are shepherds or common laborers.

They did not have a written language until 1989. At that time schools included instruction in the Tofalar language. This might keep their language from dying out like those of many of the other tribes of Russia.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Like the other tribal peoples of this region, they are shamanistic. This means that they believe in a host of spirits that will only respond to the shaman.


What Are Their Needs?

The Tofalar people need to have the chance to advance their economy through higher education.


Prayer Points

Pray for the lives and culture of the Tofalar people to evidence the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God as they open to the gospel, and for the beauty of Jesus to be seen in them.
Pray for gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Tofalar people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing the hearts of the Tofalar people would be open and ready to follow Him.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Tofalar people to become fruitful as they follow Christ.
Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended families so the gospel will spread rapidly among this people group.


Scripture Prayers for the Tofalar in Russia.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tofalar
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tofalar
https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/tofalar
https://www.eki.ee/books/redbook/tofalars.shtml
https://1baikal.ru/en/o-bajkale/kultura-i-etnos/tofalars-and-soyots-the-peoples-lost-around-baikal
http://lingsib.iea.ras.ru/en/languages/tofa.shtml


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Tofalar
People Name in Country Tofalar
Alternate Names Karagas; Tofalars
Population this Country 700
Population all Countries 700
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 14799
ROP3 Code 108768
Country Russia
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Asia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Nizhniyudinsk region of the Irkutsk Oblast. The area where they live is known as Tofalaria. Their main villages are spread through the Sayan mountains, and are called, Alygdjer, Verkhnaya Gutara and Herkha.   Source:  Field worker
Country Russia
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Asia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Nizhniyudinsk region of the Irkutsk Oblast. The area where they live is known as Tofalaria. Their main villages are spread through the Sayan mountains, and are called, Alygdjer, Verkhnaya Gutara and Herkha..   Source:  Field worker
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.50 %)
5.00 %
Ethnic Religions
95.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Russian
Language Code rus   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Karagas
Primary Language Russian
Language Code rus   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Karagas
People Groups Speaking Russian

Primary Language:  Russian

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1815-1993)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1821-1991)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1875-2024)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
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Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Russian Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
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Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
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General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General General Ministry Resources General / Other
General Open-licensed Bible stories on mobile app Distant Shores
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
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General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
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Mobile App Android Bible app: Bible General / Other
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Mobile App Android Bible app: CARS for Tajikistan General / Other
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Mobile App Android Bible app: Holy Scriptures (CARS) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Russian YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Selections from the Holy Scriptures (Allah) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Библия для детей - Russian Children's Bible Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App Android Bible app: РСП Библия Bible League
Mobile App Android Bible app: Святая Библия, Новый русский перевод (New Russian Translation) Biblica
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
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Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Russian YouVersion Bibles
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Mobile App iOS Bible app: Библия Онлайн General / Other
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Text / Printed Matter Bible Gateway scripture Bible Gateway
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Cartoon Gospel tract General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Christ for the Nations General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Russian Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source Joshua Project / Global Mapping International  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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