Birch Bark Pictographs

March 17, 2021 AIVAN group enjoyed a wonderful presentation of Valentina Semyonovna Akimova on an ancient tradition of forest Yukagir people of pictograph writing on birch bark. Those are called шанган шорилэ (shangan shorile) and are translated as “writing on the skin of the tree.” The Yukaghir people are in two distinct groups:  the Tundra Yukaghir and the Forest Yukaghir. The Forest Yukaghir etched two types of birch bark pictographs: the “male” type depicted maps and navigation routes, while the “female” type depicted love letters and showed relationship dynamics.