In this article, the author states that people games and contests have always occupied a special place in the traditional physical training of the native people in northern Russia. This article is prepared on the basis of materials obtained as a result of expeditions conducted from 1990 through 1993 into Siberia's "Khanty-Mansyyski" and "Yamalonenetskiy Autonomus Okrugs," areas where the ancient people of Siberia, the tribe of Hunts, reside. For the purposes of the article, data from the expeditions are supplemented by the research of literary and archive materials. Moreover, the author says, that the psychological and pedagogical significance, direction, and value of the people games and contests of the tribe of Hunts were different on each stage of children's development. Generally, people games and contests not only were directed toward the development of vitally important physical abilities and motor skills in children and adults, they also developed courage, ingenuity, resourcefulness, collectivism, and high morals. In addition, the games superbly prepared children for trade and economic activities under the extreme natural climatic conditions of the North. [This report was translated and edited by Oleg A. Sinelnikov.] (Contains 11 figures.)