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This paper addresses the formation of the legal status of aboriginal population of the Far East during the period of establishment of the new Soviet State government authorities between 1920’s–1930’s. The object of the research is the legal development of native small-numbered ethnic groups of the Far East. The study employs different methodological tools: historical-systematic, comparative law, historical-typological and other methods. The main problems resolved in this paper are handled in the light of modernization theory. The author defines basic laws and regulations reflective of the process of establishment of national statehood among the indigenous population of the Far East. The historic significance of the question of compliance of the objectives declared by the Soviet government with the actual situation in national districts of the Far East is shown. The conclusion on positive results of pursued policy is drawn; the problems relevant to the period in question are identified. The priority of political and ideological considerations over the economical interests in the national policy of the Soviet government can be considered as the most important positive factor for the indigenous peoples of the Far East. From the very beginning the approach of the Soviet government to the problems of the peoples of the North was based on political perspective rather than on profitability of investments. Originally the activity of the Soviet government had been focused on emphasizing the traditional peculiarities of aboriginal population. In the second half of 1930-s the orientation of ideological line was changed towards the forced integration of small-numbered ethnic groups into the Soviet society resulting in introduction of modernization activities related to national and territorial division of the national regions of the Far East.

The paper addresses the historiography of the problem of transformation of ethnocultural development of the indigenous peoples in the conditions of the socialist modernization of the Far East in 1930–1970s. The theses identified the main stages in the development of historical scientific knowledge on the history of minority ethnic groups of the Far East during the study period.