Ключевое слово: «survival strategies.»

This article explores the trickster archetype in Yakut folklore through Carl Jung’s analytical psychology, arguing that its distinctive traits reflect the Sakha people’s historical adaptation to the harsh Siberian North. In an environment where physical strength alone was inadequate for survival, intellectual agility, cunning, and innovative problem-solving became essential – values encoded in folklore via the trickster figure. Through qualitative analysis of three Yakut fairy tales, the study identifies how trickster characters embody these adaptive strategies. The Yakut trickster emerges as a cultural hero who prioritizes wisdom, communal well-being, and harmonious resistance over domination. The findings support the hypothesis that the trickster is not a random mythological motif but a symbolic crystallization of survival strategies shaped by extreme ecological and historical conditions. Ultimately, the Yakut trickster represents a collective ethos rooted in resilience, cooperation, and clever navigation of adversity – core values forged by life in the North.