Mijaks

The Mijaks practise predominantly animal husbandry, and are known for their ecclesiastical architecture, woodworking, iconography, and other rich traditions, as well as their characteristic Galičnik dialect of Macedonian.

The Mijaks traditionally inhabited the villages of Galičnik, Lazaropole, Tresonče, Selce, Rosoki, Sušica, Gari and Osoj.

The villages Oreše, Papradište, Gorno Vranovci and Melnica in the Veles region were populated by Mijaci during Ottoman rule in Macedonia.

[5] According to another theory the Mijaks are the remains of an old Slavic tribe that inhabited the area of the Salonica field and was engaged mostly in the cattle breeding.

In 1822, an unpublished lexicographical work by Panajot Ginovski, "Mijački rečnik po našem govoru", was written, containing 20,000 words.

[13][full citation needed] During the guerilla period, the Mijaks were divided into those that identified with Serbia and those that did with Bulgaria; one Serbian vojvoda was Doksim Mihailović from Galičnik, while the Bulgarian vojvods were under Maksim N. Bogoja.

Tale Krastev, Ivan Pendarovski, Rade Yankulovski, Kiro Simonovski, Yanaki Tomov,[14] Apostol Frachkovski etc.

Mijaks had mastered the craft of woodcarving, and for many years a wood carving school operated in the Mala Reka region.

They were responsible for the intricate wood carving which is found inside the Saint Jovan Bigorski Monastery, which is considered to be the best in North Macedonia.

The Mijaks were among the most skilled masons[16] and they helped wealthy Aromanians develop Kruševo into a large, prosperous and beautiful city in the 18th century.