The Chelkans (native name—Chalkandu, Shalkandu) are a small group of Turkic Indigenous people of Siberia.

The Chelkans emerged from the mixing of Turkic clans with Ket, Samoyed, and other native Siberian groups.

[4][5] The Chelkans originally mainly hunted local animals, who were vital to their subsistence lifestyle.

[3] Around the 19th century, the Chelkans took up cedar nut picking as an additional economic activity.

[3] Traditional Chelkan dress included short breeches, linen shirts, and single-breasted robes.