Before the session of the northern peoples' assembly to discuss problems of the local population, the president decided to see how the northern ethnic minorities live.
Vladimir Putin visited the primary school of Gornoknyazevsk. Here only 17 children study, and another 12 go to the nursery school. The majority of schoolchildren are Khanty.
The children learn Russian, their folk music and crafts.
In the nursery school, they play in a small toy wigwam. "The children like it," said the teachers.
Little Andrei decided to show the president the place where he lives on the globe but failed to find Salekhard. The director helped him.
Mr. Putin also took the globe and showed the child his autonomous area.
The president also visited classrooms, and in the end had some pictures taken of him with the children and teachers.
Then Vladimir Putin went to the outdoor ethnographic complex with several wigwams and deer.
The head of state learnt how a wigwam is set up and what interior it should have. In conclusion, Mr. Putin left a message in the guest book: "Russia's biggest wealth is the culture of our people. Thank you, don't forget to preserve it." Vladimir Putin also featured in a picture with deer breeders. One of the Khanty had a child in his arms. The president came up to greet the small Khanty, adjusted his fur hood and kissed him.
According to the Khanty tradition, Vladimir Putin put a coloured ribbon on a tree next to a wigwam and made a wish.
