Whom does the singer of the tales sing for? Epic traditions and intangible heritage production in the Altai Republic

Until recently, the study of cultural heritage assumed that the researcher s attention was focused directly on the objects themselves - things, structures or traditional folklore practices. However, the very existence of the concept of heritage is directly connected with those who practice it, determine its value, choose the ways of its safeguarding or reconstruction, are involved in various forms of work with cultural objects. Using the example of storytelling (kai chӧrchӧk) as an object of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of the Altai Republic, the authors examine all these processes, actors, as well as factors influencing the formation of discourse and come to the conclusion that heritage, defined by L. Smith as a process, forms a social institution. This institution creates new systems of classifications and ways of interaction used by different groups of actors. Through these interactions there is a (re)production of storytelling as a traditional practice in a new social context. This approach to the study of heritage through the lens of socio-cultural anthropology can also be applied to other regions of inhabitance of indigenous peoples. The article is based on the authors field materials collected in 2018-2020 in the Ongudai region of RA and Gorno-Altaisk.