#native siberian

Hi, I’ve recently found out through family documentation and genetic testing that I’m a big mix of indigenous ethnicities that follow along the Rhadanite path of the Silk Road. I’m Rhadanite Jew on my mom’s side — which includes Ashkenazi, Kaifeng, Altaian — and Khanty, Native Scots and Gaelic on my dad’s side. I was raised Ashkenazi Jewish and I am Orthodox-Reconstructionist culturally, but not religiously. I’d love to connect with other Jews of all backgrounds, but it would be especially nice to connect with Native Siberians or Altaians, Gaels, or anyone Chinese or of different Chinese ethnic groups. To find out that my heritage is 80% Asian is astonishing, and though it makes things make so much sense, it has turned my whole world on its head. I have wanted to learn Cantonese and Mandarin for years as well, so if you speak fluently, that’s even better! I’m a polyglot and speak fluent Russian, Yiddish, German and French, and I’m conversational in Hebrew, Khanti and Polish. If you like/reblog/reply to this I’ll send you a message. :) Thanks so much! I’m 28 so would prefer if you’re 21+.

my grandpa went his whole life basically passing as white and identifying as russian, but i recently obtained information of his parents (old records) that show he was actually mostly of sakha (indigenous siberian/asian) descent. i know dna tests aren’t great, but i got one and i got a little less than a quarter siberian and north asian, so that proves that the records are accurate. this feels like the missing puzzle piece that has explained a lot of random loose ends. it explains why my grandpa and mom always got asked if they were asian, and why a lot of people thought they looked something other than russian. it also makes sense why this ancestry would’ve been hidden, as during the ussr there was a big push for minorities to integrate into russian culture. i’ve been doing a lot of research on this- some native siberians were forced to consider themselves white, but some actually chose to embrace “russofication” and erase their own cultures for social mobility and safety. i don’t know what this means for me and i am really confused now - does this make me a poc? does it mean i’m not part russian anymore, that i can’t identify with russian culture? and is it weird for me to try to connect with native siberian culture? my grandpa passed away a few years ago, and he probably went his entire life thinking he was just russian, which makes me deeply sad. it also makes me wonder why my ancestors would’ve pretended to be white, and i feel guilty about wanting to connect with siberian culture, because my ancestors may have partially contributed to its erasure, willingly or not.

I've seen a lot of Native American posts here, but I'd hope to find some help reconnecting when it comes to native Siberians. I really think your account is helpful and would love to get some help about this.